v.  &. 


MEMOIR 


OF 


ALEXANDER  MACOMB, 


THE    MAJOR    GENERAL 


COMMANDING    THE 


ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


BY  GEORGE   H.    RICHARDS,   Esa. 

Captain  of  Mammb's  Artillery,  in  the  late  War. 


NEW-YORK— M'ELRATH,  BAXttS  &  Co 


MDCCCXXXtll. 


Entered  according  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  thirty-lwo,  by  M'ELRATH  £.  BANGS,  in  thr  ( 'lok'^  Office  of  the  Court  of 
the  United  States,  for  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 


W.  OSBORN  AND  CO.,  PRINTERS, 
85  Chatham-street. 


New  -  York,  November,  1832. 

TO  ALBERT  GALLATIN : 

SIR, 

WILL  you  allow  me  to  inscribe  this  little  volume 
to  you,  as  an  humble  tribute  of  my  respect  and  admi 
ration,  of  my  gratitude  and  esteem  ?  You  being  now 
in  private  life,  I  feel  the  greater  freedom  in  the  expres 
sion  of  my  sentiments,  and  may,  I  trust,  indulge  this 
expression,  without  an  impugnment  of  motive. 

Although  you  are  a  civilian,  there  can  be  no  incon 
gruity  in  dedicating  this  military  memoir  to  him,  from 
whose  intellectual  grasp  no  branch  of  human  art  or 
science  is  permitted  to  escape.  You  may  feel,  too,  a 
special  interest  in  tracing  the  course  of  a  soldier,  whose 
most  signal  exploit  facilitated  your  own  negotiations  in 
the  Treaty  of  Ghent. 

A  Financier,  Diplomatist,  and  Statesman,  whose 
mind,  acquirements,  and  character,  (it  is  within  my 
personal  knowledge)  are  known  and  reverenced  in  the 
political  and  scientific  circles  of  Europe,  and  whose  re 
publican  principles  and  public  services  have  been  em- 

M210377 


IV 

phatically  avouched  by  one  of  our  political  Patriarchs, 
Jefferson,  in  that  pregnant  phrase — "  he  is  the  main 
mast  of  the  vessel  of  State" — you  may  yet  condescend 
at  some  leisure  moment,  during  the  intervals  of  your 
important  avocations,  to  run  over  these  sketches.  It 
has  not  been  within  the  vanity,  any  more  than  the 
ability  of  the  writer,  to  emulate  your  own  peculiar  style 
of  thought  and  of  expression,  which,  like  a  steam  en 
gine,  accumulates  a  momentous  power  by  compression, 
and  exerts  it  with  a  corresponding  expansive  effect — 
a  resistless  energy  of  propulsion  :  Still  these  pages, 
though  they  can  afford  you  no  instruction,  will  present 
you,  in  the  subject  of  them,  with  a  theme  of  national 
pride  and  a  source  of  patriotic  gratulation. 

GEORGE  H.  RICHARDS. 


PREFACE. 


THE  following  pages  were  prepared  some  two  or  three 
years  ago,  for  Samuel  F.  Bradford,  Esq.,  to  be  inserted  in 
his  Annual  "the  Cabinet,"  which  was  published  in  con 
junction  with  the  Talisman.  The  memoir  being  too 
long  for  publication  in  that  work,  and  the  task  of  abbre 
viation  being  irksome,  a  personal  friend  of  Gen.  Macomb, 
in  my  absence,  kindly  undertook  the  office  of  re-casting 
it  in  his  own  mould,  and  produced  it  with  great  grace, 
spirit,  and  elegance,  as  it  appeared  in  the  "Cabinet." 
This  was  satisfactory  to  me ;  but  many  of  the  friends 
and  connexions  of  the  General,  in  this  city,  having  been 
desirous  that  it  should  appear  in  full,  as  originally  writ 
ten,  I  have  yielded,  however  indiscreetly,  to  their  request. 

It  is  now,  therefore,  submitted  to  the  Press,  as  a  memo 
randum  for  the  historian — as  a  grateful  reminiscence  for 
the  personal  friends  of  the  subject  of  the  memoir — and 
as  an  humble,  but  honest  record  for  those  who  love  their 
country  and  that  country's  glory  and  all  who  have 
achieved  it — for  those  who,  more  of  patriots  than  critics, 
will  excuse  the  imperfect  delineation,  while  they  contem 
plate  the  features,  and  cheenngly  hail  the  brilliant  ca 
reer,  of  virtue  and  valour,  of  learning  and  genius. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  these  sheets,  from  a  rough 
soldier's  rougher  pen,  advance  no  pretensions  to  the  no- 

1* 


VI 


tice  of  criticism.     It  were  idle  to  deprecate  evils  which 
can  not  come.    "  Who  would  rack  a  fly  upon  the  wheel?" 

The  reader,  it  is  hoped,  will  deem  me  excusable  in 
having  sprinkled  this  memoir  with  brief  notices  of  those 
actors  in  the  scenes  described,  whom  the  narrative  natu 
rally  and  necessarily  introduced. 

The  delay  which  has  taken  place  in  the  publication, 
occasioned  by  the  pressure  of  my  engagements,  has  not, 
of  course,  affected,  in  any  degree,  the  verity  of  its  state 
ments.  Truth  is  the  same,  at  Athens  and  at  Rome,  now 
and  forever;  and  the  truths,  especially,  of  History,  like 
Pyramidal  Structures,  tower  through  all  time,  and  solidi 
fy  by  the  accumulation  of  ages.  They  stand,  mid  the 
revolutions  of  human  affairs,  like  fixed  points  in  the  hea 
vens,  toward  which  philosophers  and  statesmen  point 
their  instruments  of  observation,  and  gather  calculations 
for  the  expansion  of  science  and  for  the  conduct  of  na 
tions. 

It  is  not  the  design  nor  the  wish  of  this  memoir  to 
elevate  the  glory  of  arms  above  that  of  letters.  There 
are  different  species  of  fame,  and  different  species  even 
of  military  fame.  True  glory  is  in  a  compound  ratio  to 
the  exertion  of  intellectual  power,  and  to  the  direction 
which  that  power  may  take.  Aside  from  its  motives 
and  objects,  whatever  evinces  the  greatest  power  of  in 
tellect  is  the  most  glorious ;  whether  an  epic  poem  or  the 
higher  calculus.  Whether,  with  Milton,  to  create  and 
people  immaterial  worlds — or,  with  Shakspeare,  to  thread 
the  mazes  of  all  possible  modes  of  being  and  of  action, 
of  feeling  and  of  thought — whether,  with  Newton,  to 
weigh  the  stars,  to  analyze  the  light,  and  pierce  the  ma 
terial  curtain  which  shuts  us  out  from  other  spheres — or, 


Vll 


with  Berkeley,  looking  through  nature,  to  remove  from 
before  the  mental  vision  the  barrier  which  divides  time 
from  eternity :  these,  one  and  all,  are  glorious,  immortal 
conquests.  They  lift  up  human  nature.  They  teach 
man,  that,  though  bodily  present  in  this  world,  he  has 
capacities  for  higher  scenes,  superior  enjoyments — the 
destined  heir  of  a  richer  and  eternal  heritage. 

The  victories  of  Caesar  are  preserved  imperishably  in 
his  own  commentaries.  The  triumphal  arch,  the  aspi 
ring  column,  the  memorial  statue,  have  mouldered  into  dust, 
while  his  descriptions  are  fresh  and  verdant  as  when  first 
from  the  hand  of  their  author.  As  the  second  orator  of 
Rome,  he  was  undoubtedly  more  glorious,  than  when,  at 
the  head  of  his  flushed  legions,  he  passed  the  rubicon, 
and  gave  a  master  to  the  mistress  of  the  world.  The 
modern  Caesar,  too,  has  erected,  on  the  Code  Napoleon, 
the  proudest  pillar  of  his  fame,  more  durable  than  the 
bronze  or  marble  of  the  Tuilleries,  and  which  will  survive 
the  names  of  Lodi,  Austerlitz,  and  Marengo.  These  in 
stances  but  serve  to  illustrate  the  position,  that  the  ac 
complished  officer,  the  great  general,  those  whom  History 
inscribes  on  her  scroll,  and  who  were  not  born  to  die, 
must  add,  to  the  rich  endowments  of  nature,  the  maturest 
cultivations  of  art. 

In  the  ages  of  barbarism,  war  was  a  royal  pastime — 
the  vagrant  hunting  game  of  Princes  for  spoil  and  do 
minion.  Scythia's  desolating  hordes,  the  ignorant  move 
ments  of  vast  masses  of  physical  force,  of  the  wire-strung 
automata  of  armies,  for  the  purposes  of  violence  and  de 
vastation,  of  lust,  rapine,  and  insatiate  ambition,  long 
drenched  the  earth  with  blood  and  tears,  and  rent  the 
sky  with  cries  of  anguish.  We  behold  Bajazet  in  the 


Vlll 

cage  of  Timur,  and  consider  prisoner  and  gaoler  alike 
the  object  of  disgust  and  horror,  of  scorn  and  execration. 
Goth  and  Hun,  Alaric  and  Attila,  sweep,  with  their 
besom,  the  land  of  Italy  and  Greece,  of  arts  and  of  hu 
manity  ;  Kouli  and  Gengis  Khan  pour  like  a  torrent 
upon  Candahar  and  Cathany ;  Bethlem  Gabor,  with 
vulture  talons,  pounces  upon  Hungary ; — the  only  me 
morials  they  leave  are  ruins — their  only  trophies  are 
rights  violated  and  innocence  profaned,  the  confiscated 
palace  and  the  desecrated  temple,  cities  sacked  and  pro 
vinces  depopulated  :  They  are  immortalized  in  infamy : 
Their  march  is  the  march  of  death — all  the  Furies  in  their 
train.  The  nineteenth  century,  in  the  spirit  of  true  phi 
losophy,  looks  down,  pity  softening  its  contempt,  upon 
these  ignoble  banditti,  the  royal  robbers  and  princeljr 
murderers  of  mankind. 

Behold  now,  in  contrast  wide  as  zenith  from  the  nadir, 
the  Genius  of  Modern  War — discarding  all  barbarities — 
retaining  all  refinements — cherishing  all  the  courtesies — 
displaying  lofty  sentiment  and  gallant  action,  the  Chival 
ry  of  Heroism.  Examine  the  character,  the  objects,  the 
motives  of  the  PATRIOT  SOLDIER.  No  mercenary 
he  !  No  despot's  minion  !  Looking  to  his  country  to  pos 
terity,  to  preserve  his  name,  he  plunges,  like  Curtius,  a 
voluntary  victim,  into  the  gulf  which  Anarchy  may 
have  opened — he  offers  himself  up,  in  defence  against 
foreign  aggression,  a  self-sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  his 
country.  Take  a  generous  youth,  of  noble  aspirations, 
his  breast  panting  at  the  bright  prospects  which  Hope 
and  Imagination  present  to  him  in  burnished  array,  his 
mind  fraught  with  full  knowledge  of  all  the  avenues 
which  lead  to  the  Temple  of  Fame.  Which  path  will  he 


IX 

pursue  ?  What  course  select  ? — How  the  blood  thrills  to 
the  heart,  when  we  contemplate  Gustavus  issuing  from 
the  mines  of  Dalecarlia  to  the  rescue  of  his  countrymen — 
when  we  barely  pronounce  the  names  of  Bruce  and  Wal 
lace — when  we  recall  the  image  of  Pulaski — when  we 
hear  the  child  lisp  the  household  word  Lafayette — when 
we  see,  in  the  picture  of  the  mind,  Kosciusko  unfurling 
the  banners  of  Independence  from  the  walls  of  Warsaw ! 
Look  at  the  General,  in  the  tented  council,  explaining  to 
his  confidential  officers  the  plan  of  the  campaign,  on  the 
issue  of  which  the  existence  of  his  country,  of  liberty, 
and  its  institutions,  is  suspended  !  Again  see  him  in  the 
field,  quickly  arranging  the  scientific  combinations  of 
battle,  cheering  the  wavering,  and  leading  the  brave! 
Search  the  annals  of  States— go  to  the  Pantheon  of  the 
Deified — find  him  who  wears  the  greenest  chaplet,  and 
holds  the  highest  niche  in  the  Temple  :  His  name  will 
be  Washington,  who  lead  the  armies  of  his  country  to 
victory,  and  conquered  for  Freedom  and  the  Republic  ! 
The  protection  of  hearths  and  altars,  the  repulsion  of  in 
vasion,  the  overthrow  of  despotism,  the  establishment  of 
independence,  the  salvation  of  a  country,  which  are  the 
proper  feats  of  arms,  have  ever  ranked,  not  only  among 
the  clearest  duties  of  patriotism,  but  also  among  the  sub- 
limest  objects  of  man's  ambition  and  glory. 

In  modern  times,  war  has  not  merely  grown  into  an  art 
— it  is  ennobled  into  a  science  :  and,  from  its  ultimate  per 
fection,  perhaps,  as  well  as  from  the  prophecies  both  of 
religion  and  philosophy,  Philanthropy  may  indulge  the 
hope  of  that  Saturnian  period,  "  when  nations  shall  learn 
war  no  more."  Till  this  period  come,  and  indeed  in  or 
der  to  hasten  it,  we  must  neglect  no  instruction — we 


use  all  appliances.  We  must  cherish  the  science  of  war  ; 
and,  as  war  itself  is  not  an  abstraction,  we  must  also 
cherish  those  who  can  practice  it. 

Preparation  for  it  is  proverbially  its  best  preventive  ; 
and  it  is  too  tremendous  in  its  trials  to  be  wantonly  in 
curred  by  negligence:  for  war,  like  Minos,  shakes  the 
Urn  which  holds  the  fates  of  men  and  nations.  Every 
country  hitherto  has  been  necessitated  or  seduced  to  launch 
into  the  tempestuous  waters  of  martial  combat;  but  when 
embarked  on  that  ocean,  not  sage  nor  seer  can  tell  what 
storms  may  gather,  in  what  clouds  the  beacon-lights  be 
lost,  what  hidden  currents  heave  us  from  our  course, 
what  time  the  arch  again  be  spanned,  or  which  bellige 
rent  be  doomed  to  cry,  in  the  language  of  Byron,  "  Renew 
thy  rainbow,  God!" 

GEORGE  H.  RICHARDS. 


MEMOIR,  &c. 


OUR  national  gallery  of  distinguished  men,  the 
portrait  of  Alexander  Macomb  stands  conspicuous. 
The  great  men  of  this  country,  like  the  oaks  of  its 
forests,  are  of  spontaneous  growth.  The  hot-house  of 
patronage,  the  adscititious  aids  of  noble  family  and 
illustrious  alliance,  are  not  necessary  to  bring  them  to 
maturity.  They  invigorate  and  expand,  as  well  amid 
the  storms,  as  beneath  the  sunshine,  of  fortune. 

The  subject  of  this  Memoir  will  be  found,  like  most 
of  his  eminent  countrymen,  to  have  risen  by  the  salient 
and  recuperative  energies  of  his  own  genius.  Although 
born  of  respectable  parents,  and  receiving,  not  an  ela 
borate  and  finished,  though  highly  valuable  education, 
still  he  must  be  viewed  as  the  architect  of  his  own  for 
tunes,  the  arbiter  of  his  own  destiny.  How  many,  even 
in  our  own  country,  have  enjoyed  greater  advantages, 
had  more  powerful  connexions,  been  educated  at  univer 
sities,  and  perfected  in  their  studies  by  foreign  travel,  who 


12  MEMOIR   OF 

yet  have  performed  no  deed  of  fame,  and  rendered  no 
service  to  society.  The  prominence  of  station,  the  wide 
spread  and  enduring  celebrity,  which  Macomb  has  ac 
quired,  have  been  fairly  earned  in  the  open  field  of  ho 
nourable  competition  and  emulous  prowess.  He  sowed 
the  harvest  which  he  reaps.  By  his  own  right  arm, 
he  plucked  the  laurels,  with  which  a  nation  garlands 
his  brow,  and  which,  in  peace,  like  Harmodius,  he 
weaves  into  a  wreath  where  his  sword  reposes.  Such 
a  man  seems  always  favoured  by  good  fortune,  because 
he  wins  it  by  address,  or  commands  it  by  boldness. 

It  is  usual,  in  sketches  like  the  present,  to  give  some 
account  of  the  origin  and  family  of  the  individual  whose 
life  and  character  are  portrayed.  Although,  in  this  free 
and  happy  republic,  no  long  line  of  patrician  ancestry 
is  deemed  a  qualification  for  office,  nor  a  passport  to 
power ;  yet  it  is  a  theme,  at  once,  of  ingenious  specu 
lation  and  liberal  curiosity,  to  trace,  through  the  deriva 
tion  from  different  nations,  the  various  sources  of  (he 
blood  which  runs  in  the  veins  of  our  countrymen,  and, 
in  every  instance  of  a  distinguished  person,  to  Irani 
something  of  his  parentage  and  descent. 

Alexander  Macomb,  the  Major  General  commanding 
the  Army  of  the  United  States,  is  descended,  on  the 
paternal  side,  from  a  respectable  Irish  family,  and,  on 
the  maternal,  from  an  ancient  French  family  of  noble 


MACOMB.  13 

extraction.  The  grandfather,  John  Macomb,  emi 
grated  to  this  country,  from  Ireland,  as  early  as  the  year 
1742,  and  held  an  official  station  under  the  Colonial 
government.  He  selected,  for  his  place  of  residence, 
the  city  of  New- York.  Here,  too,  his  son  Alexander 
Macomb,  the  father  of  the  General,  was  educated  and 
resided.  He  sustained  the  character  of  an  useful  and 
highly  public-spirited  citizen  ;  had  the  honour  of  repre 
senting  that  city  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  the 
years  1787-88;  and,  in  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain, 
furnished  five  sons  for  the  service  of  his  country  in  the 
regular  Army  and  the  Militia. 

The  grandfather,  on  the  mother's  side,  was  Robert 
de  Navarre.  He  came  from.  Paris  to  America,  in  the 
year  1745,  an  officer  under  the  French  government, 
and  acted  as  Notaire  Royal  and  Sub-Deligue  of  the 
king  of  Prance,  on  the  early  establishment  of  Detroit, 
where  he  remained  and  raised  a  large  family,  the  de 
scendants  of  which  are  spread  through  the  greater  por 
tion  of  the  French  population  of  Michigan,  and  its  im 
mediate  vicinity  on  the  Canadian  side. 

The  father  of  our  Macomb,  in  the  adventurous  spirit 
of  the  times  before  the  revolution,  established  a  mercan 
tile  house  at  Detroit,  where  he  succeeded  in  amassing  a 
considerable  estate,  by  means  of  those  valuable  furs  and 
peltries,  then  and  since  the  rich  staples  of  an  extensive 

2 


14  MEMOIR    OF 

commerce  in  the  remote  and  unsettled  parts  of  the 
northwestern  portion  of  America,  bordering  on  the  Ohio 
and  the  Lakes.  He  married,  at  Detroit,  Miss  Catha 
rine  Navarre.  He  had  a  numerous  and  growing  family ; 
and,  on  the  restoration  of  peace,  with  the  acquisition  of 
a  handsome  fortune,  he  returned  to  New- York.  He 
made  extensive  purchases  of  land  in  the  we?ter:i  part 
of  the  State,  then  a  wilderness,  now  called  "  Macomb's 
Purchase,"  and  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  his  industry 
and  enterprise,  until  misplaced  confidence  and  the  vi 
cissitudes  of  trade  snatched  from  him,  as  it  were  in  a 
moment,  the  accumulations  of  years,  and  reduced  him 
to  comparative  indigence  and  distress. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  at  Detroit,  on  the 
3d  of  April,  1782.  Though  not,  like  one  of  the  heroes 
of  antiquity,  born  on  tapestry  representing  the  scenes  of 
the  Iliad,  he  may  yet  almost  literally  be  said  to  have 
been  nursed  in  field  and  fortress,  and  rocked  by  the 
storms  of  war.  Detroit,  at  this  time,  wras  a  military  post. 
The  chubby  boy  became  a  favourite  with  the  soldiers 
of  the  garrison.  He  was  dandled  on  the  soldier's  knee, 
— fed  at  the  soldier's  mess — his  eye  wa.s  dnxxlcd  with 
the  gorgeous  pageantry  of  military  parade — and  his  ear 
delighted  with  the  rousing  strains  of  martial  music. 
He  slept  and  awoke  amid  martial  sounds  and  associa 
tions.  External  objects  so  readily  and  deeply  stamp 


MACOMB.  15 

their  impression  on  the  mind  just  opening  to  the  world, 
it  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise  that  the  dreams  of  his  in 
fancy  and  the  visions  of  his  youth  were  of  military 
glory. 

He  was  yet  an  infant,  when  his  father  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  city  of  New- York.  It  was  in  that 
city,  he  spent  the  early  years  of  childhood.  But  when 
only  eight  years  of  age,  he  was  sent  to  the  Academy 
at  Newark,  in  New- Jersey,  and  was  placed  under 
the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Doctor  Uzual  Ogden,  who  was 
president  of  the  institution^  pastor  of  the  Episcopal 
church  in  that  town,  and  bishop  elect  of  the  Diocese 
of  New- Jersey.  He  there  received  the  rudiments  of 
a  classical,  mathematical,  and  French  education.  The 
eruption  of  the  French  revolution,  at  this  period, 
threw  many  of  the  unfortunate  families  of  France  and 
the  West  Indies  into  our  country,  as  an  asylum  where 
the  exiles  of  foreign  oppression  sought  and  found 
a  second  home.  A  great  many  of  the  young  gentlemen 
of  those  families  were  sent  to  the  Academy  at  Newark ; 
and  a  number  of  the  families  themselves  took  up  their 
residence  in  the  vicinity.  This  circumstance  afforded 
a  fine  opportunity  to  the  American  youths,  by  cultivating 
intercourse  with  the  French,  to  acquire  a  practical  know 
ledge  of  their  language.  The  occasion  was  not  ne 
glected  by  young  Macomb,  who,  both  at  school  and  in  con 
versation,  became  familiarized  with  that  polite  and  use- 


16 


MEMOIR    OF 


ful  tongue  :  an  acquisition  which  has  proved  itself  of  im 
mense  benefit  to  him,  in  his  intercourse  with  the  world, 
and  especially  in  the  prosecution  of  his  military  profes 
sion. 

It  is  hardly  less  philosophical  than  amusing,  to  trace 
the  developments  of  greatness  to  their  germ  :  to 
mark  even  the  earliest  indications  of  character  ;  and 
notice  those  little  incidents  which  often,  perhaps,  have 
a  controlling,  though  unsuspected,  agency  in  forming 
the  plastic  mind  of  youth,  that,  subsequently,  in  the 
maturity  of  its  strength  and  in  the  vigour  of  manhood, 
may  guide  the  course,  or  mould  the  destinies,  of  em 
pire.  With  this  view,  the  reader  will  pardon  a  brief 
recital  of  a  passage  or  two,  in  the  juvenile  years  of 
Macomb. 

The  war  of  the  French  revolution  raging  at  the 
period  he  was  at  school  in  Newark,  although  a  mere 
lad,  he  could  not  but  be  influenced,  more  or  less,  like 
"  young  Norval  who  had  heard  of  battles,"  by  the  de 
scriptions  of  the  martial  array,  of  defeats  and  victories 
alternately  lost  and  won  by  the  aristocrats  and  demo 
crats  of  France.  These  were,  al  that  time,  the  con 
stant  topic  of  conversation  and  newspaper  discussion. 
At  the  commencement  of  that  revolution,  it  is  well 
known  with  what  fervid  enthusiasm  the  feelings  of 
our  countrymen,  even  to  the  children,  entered  into  the 
contest,  then  deemed  the  holy  cause  of  freedom,  (as 


MACOMB.  17 

indeed  it  was  in  its  incipiency,)  against  oppression  and 
(ism  !  Every  success  which  the  French  repub 
licans  gained  was  lauded  throughout  the  country — the 
public  prints  related  it  with  exultation — and  the  Ame 
rican  people  hailed  it  with  rapturous  joy;  identifying 
the  cause  of  France  with  that  of  universal  liberty. 
The  '•'  Marcellois  hymn"  and  other  patriotic  songs  of 
that  revolution  were  "  conn'd  by  heart"  by  our  youths, 
and  recited  and  sung  witli  an  ardour  bordering  on 
phrenzy.  The  French  cockade  was  universally  worn  ; 
indeed  it  was  dangerous  to  appear  without  that  emblem 
of  "  civisin"  and  democracy ;  even  the  cravats  were 
tamboured  with  the  motto  of  "  La  liberte  et  L?Egalitd3" 
and  the  appropriate  tricolour  of  the  day. 

During  this  period  too,  strong  excitement  prevailed 
against  the  British  Government,  on  account  of  its  with 
holding  the  posts  within  our  acknowledged  limits,  on 
the  Canadian  frontiers,  and  its  impressment  of  our 
citizens  on  the  high  seas.  The  approach  of  war  with 
Great  Britain  was  now  considered  to  be  so  near,  that 
the  citizens  commenced  the  fortification  of  Governor's 
Island,  and  other  positions  in  the  vicinity,  for  the  pro* 
tection  of  the  city  of  New- York  ;  and  the  very  boys 
at  school  joined  in  the  welcome  task  of  throwing  up 
the  projected  works.  Small  as  he  then  was,  our  young 
enthusiast  partook  of  the  fatigue,  and  was  distinguished 

2* 


18 


MEMOIR  OF 


for  his  assiduity  in  lending  his  little  labors  to  the  work 
of  defence. 

The  students  at  the  Academy  in  Newark  had 
hecome  quite  numerous ;  and  some  of  them  having 
given  umbrage  to  a  young  son  of  Crispin,  the  faculty, 
feeling  their  "  esprit  du  corps"  touched,  roused  them 
selves  to  the  field,  with  their  allies,  and  appeared  en 
masse  before  the  students.  The  challenge  could  not 
be  declined  ;  and  a  combat  ensued,  in  which,  after  a 
severe  struggle  with  fists,  sticks,  "  arma  furor  niiuin- 
strat" — the  Crispians  retreated.  In  this  affair,  by  that 
sort  of  instinctive  impulse  and  consent,  which,  in  as 
semblies,  whether  of  boys  or  men,  assumes  and  yields 
the  ascendant,  young  Macomb  took  and  vigorously 
exercised  the  command.  In  a  subsequent  affray  be 
tween  the  same  parties,  a  similar  illustration  was 
afforded.  It  was  agreed  that  each  party  should  select 
its  champion,  and  decide  the  contest  according  to  the 
laws  of  pugilism,  then  a  fashionable  accomplishment. 
Young  Macomb,  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  entered 
the  ring  on  the  side  of  the  students.  The  brawny 
arms  of  his  antagonist  played  with  athletic  strength 
about  his  person,  and  would  inevitably  have  gained 
the  day,  had  not  fortunately  our  little  champion  been 
schooled  in  the  pugilistic  art  by  a  brother-in-law,  who 
had  himself  been  regularly  initiated  by  Mendoza,  in 


MArOMB.  19 

England.  The  ensuing  winter  furnished  new  occasions 
for  these  miniature  military  operations.  The  students 
agreed  to  erect  a  fort  of  snow,  and  to  divide  themselves 
into  two  parties,  one  of  which  to  garrison  the  fort,  and 
the  other  to  attack  it.  The  Latin  and  Greek  Teacher 
at  the  Academy  was  a  Scotchman  of  the  name  of  Ir- 
quart,  who  possessed  deep-rooted  prejudices  against  the 
French,  and,  finding  that  they  were  not  so  enthusias 
tically  admired  as  formerly  by  the  Americans,  sought 
to  create  animosities  among  the  students,  who  were 
pretty  equally  divided  in  point  of  number.  The  fort 
being  completed,  these  little  communities,  as  represen 
tatives  of  their  respective  nations,  determined  to  toss 
up  for  the  possession  of  the  fort,  and  each  choose  a 
commander.  The  French  won ;  and  a  day  was  fixed 
on.  for  the  siege  and  attack.  The  French  boys  secretly 
repaired  to  the  fort  the  previous  night,  with  frozen 
snow-balls,  and  arranged  them  in  their  magazines,  and 
along  the  parapets.  At  dawn  of  the  appointed  day,  the 
parties  were  at  their  respective  stations,  Macomb  head 
ing  the  Americans.  The  besieging  party,  before  com 
mencing  the  attack,  threw  up,  under  the  fire  of  the  fort, 
a  sort  of  epaulment,  to  cover  themselves  from  the  balls 
of  the  besieged.  The  Scotch  schoolmaster  happened 
that  day  to  get  into  the  Academy  at  an  earlier  hour 
than  usual,  and  watched,  with  intense  eagerness,  the 


20  MEMOIR  OP 

operations  of  the  belligerents,  which  were  going-  on  at 
no  great  distance  from  his  position.  The  assailants 
having  prepared  a  sufficient  quantify  of  munitions  for 
the  bombardment,  the  fire  was  opened  on  the  fort,  and 
returned  with  great  spirit  and  effect,  several  of  the  he- 
sieging  party  having  been  struck  with  the  ice-balls, 
and  brought  to  the  ground.  The  Americans  conceived 
the  use  of  this  missile  to  be  c  ontrary  to  the  laws  of 
war ;  and  their  leader  instantly  proposed  to  assault  the 
fort,  and  carry  it  by  storm.  This  proposal  was  hailed 
with  three  cheers,  and  almost  as  immediately  executed. 
Under  a  tremendous  and  well-directed  fire  of  the  ice- 
balls,  the  works  were  stormed,  the  magazines  seized, 
and  the  arms  turned  against  the  French.  The  Scotch 
man  now  caused  the  bell  to  be  rung  for  school ;  and, 
after  severely  upbraiding  the  besieged  party  for  their 
treachery,  he  applied  his  leathern  throng  to  their  leader, 
calling  him  the  domned  French  mo??,  until  our  hero, 
by  his  intercession,  procured  his  release,  and  let  him  go 
on  parole. 

In  the  year  1795,  Macomb's  eldest  sister  was  mar 
ried  to  the  Honorable  Robert  Kennedy,  a  younger  son 
of  the  late  Earl  of  Casselis,  and  brother  of  the  present 
Marquess  of  Ails,  who,  possessing  a  handsome  property 
near  Newark,  took  up  his  residence  at  a  neighboring 
seat,  called  Petersboro,  on  the  Passaic,  and  invited  to  his 


MACOMB.  21 

house,  his  new  brother-in-law,  for  whom  he  felt  a  strong 
partiality,  in  order  that  his  manners  and  education 
might  be  more  carefully  attended  to,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  might  continue  his  studies  at  the  Newark  Acade 
my.  Mr.  Kennedy  had  just  become  of  age  ;  and,  in  pos 
session  of  an  ample  fortune,  entertained  all  the  agreea 
ble  and  enlightened  society  in  his  neighbourhood.  He  fre 
quently,  also,  had  (distinguished  individuals  of  our  own 
country  and  from  abroad,  to  pass  the  more  pleasant 
seasons  at  his  hospitable  mansion.  Besides,  he  was 
fond  of  hunting,  shooting,  and  fishing,  and  all  the 
sports  of  the  field— exercises  well  calculated  to  fit  one 
for  the  active  duties  of  a  soldier,  and  of  which  young 
Macomb  was  permitted  to  partake,  when  they  would 
not  interfere  with  his  studies. 

The  intelligent  and  refined  society  which  frequented 
Petersboro,  as  well  as  that  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedy 
themselves,  \\howereboth  highly  accomplished,  pre 
senting  in  their  own  deportment  good  examples  of  po 
lite  life,  afforded  to  young  Macomb  an  early  opportunity 
of  forming  his  manners  on  the  best  models ;  and  it  is 
but  justice  to  those  who  then  constituted  the  society  of 
that  place  and  its  vicinity,  to  say  that  they  possessed, 
in  an  eminent  degree,  all  those  acquirements  and  agre- 
•jnciin  which,  while  they  soften  the  manners,  tend  to 
meliorate  the  heart  and  polish  the  mind,  and  conse- 


66  MEMOIR    OF 

quently  to  give  a  zest  to  friendly  intercourse,  and  guard 
the  purity  of  social  enjoyment. 

Having  now  attained  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  mani 
festing  a  decided  predilection  for  a  military  life,  he  inti 
mated  to  his  father  a  desire  to  enter  either  the  Army 
or  Navy,  for  some  of  his  young  associates  had  just 
been  appointed  Midshipmen.  His  father,  justly  regard 
ing  a  good  education  paramount  to  every  other  con 
sideration,  replied,  that  when  he  had  completed  his 
studies  and  evinced  competent  ability,  he  might  think 
of  a  profession  ;  but  that,  if  he  were  to  launch  into  the 
world  with  a  mind  uninformed  and  undisciplined,  his 
course  of  instruction  unfinished,  it  would  be  idle  to  ex 
pect  the  attainment  of  eminence  in  any  pursuit. 

Our  difficulties  with  France  continued  to  increase, 
and  volunteer  corps  in  defence  of  the  country  be 
gan,  in  the  spirit  of  the  day,  to  be  raised  and  organ 
ized.  Notwithstanding  the  youth  and  careful  tutor 
age  of  Macomb,  his  propensity  for  a  military  life  ex 
hibited  itself  so  strongly,  that  his  father  thought  it  a 
duty  to  take  him  home,  in  order  to  confine  his  attention 
more  exclusively  to  his  books.  His  father  now  caused 
him  to  be  particularly  instructed  in  mathematics  and 
drawing,  and  engaged  masters  to  perfect  him  in  the  arts 
of  fencing  and  riding.  By  being  trained  to  athletic  and 
gymnastic  exercises  in  his  youth,  the  foundation  \\'i 


MACOMB.  2D 

laid  for  a  hale,  robust  constitution,  which   he  has  ever 
since  uniformly  enjoyed. 

On  the  2Sth  of  May,  1798,  Macomb  was  proposed 
and  elected  a  member  of  the  volunteer  company,  called 
the  "  New-York  Rangers,"  under  Lieut.  Commandant 
Edward  Laight,  in  the  3d  Regiment  of  New- York 
Militia,  of  which  Jacob  Morton,  now  Senior  Major  Ge 
neral  of  the  Militia  of  the  State,  was  Colonel.  This 
company  was  exclusively  composed  of  the  young  gen 
tlemen  of  the  city;  and  a  single  black  ball  denied  ad 
mission.  Our  Government  was  then  engaged  in  making 
preparations  to  meet  any  exigencies  which  might  grow 
out  of  the  difficulties  unhappily  existing  between  the 
United  States  and  the  French  Republic.  It  was  at 
this  time,  that  our  Commissioners  in  France,  on  a  de 
mand  by  the  Government  of  that  country  for  money, 
recommended  to  Congress  the  high-souled  resolve, 
"  Millions  for  defence — not  a  cent  for  tribute."  On 
the  day  that  Macomb  became  a  volunteer  in  deduce  of 
his  injured  country,  an  act  was  passed  by  Congr;  ss,  au 
thorizing  the  President  to  accept  volunteers.  The  com 
pany  to  which  he  belonged,  fired  with  a  patriotic  spirit; 
unanimously  offered  their  services  to  the  President,  and 
were  accepted  accordingly.  An  act  was  soon  afterwards 
passed,  to  augment  the  Army  by  twelve  new  Regi 
ments  of  Infantry  and  six  Troops  of  Light  Dragoons. 


MEMOIR    OF 

These  troops,  together  with  the  two  troops  of  Dra 
goons  already  in  service,  were  to  be  formed  into  a  Regi 
ment.  The  opportunity  thus  presented  itself  for  those 
who  desired  it,  to  enter  the  Army  ;  and  young  Macomb, 
without  the  knowledge  of  his  family,  availed  himself  of 
the  opening,  by  tendering  his  services  to  the  Secretary 
of  War. 

He  requested  an  appointment  in  any  Regiment  or 
Corps  about  to  be  raised,  but  asked,  in  the  event  of  his 
success,  if  admissible,  lo  be  placed  in  some  Regiment 
to  be  raised  in  his  own  State.  His  letter  of  applica 
tion  he  handed,  open,  to  the  Colonel  of  his  Regiment, 
Jacob  Morton,  with  a  request  (hat  he  would  be  pleased 
to  add  whatever  he  thought  proper,  and  forward  it  to 
the  Hon.  John  Lawrence,  the  then  Senator  from  the 
State  of  New-York,  to  be  laid  before  the  Secretary  of 
War.  Colonel  Morton  had  served  in  the  regular  Army 
during  the  Revolution,  and  possessed  a  real  military 
tact  and  spirit.  He  gave  great  encouragement  to  the 
volunteers  who  composed  his  elegant  Regiment.  This 
Regiment  attracted  a  marked  notice  by  its  high  state 
of  discipline  and  soldierly  appearance  :  no  regular  sol 
diers  could  have  been  more  carefully  drilled.  It  was 
composed  of  the  elite  of  the  city  ;  and  a  number  of 
its  members  were  appointed  in  the  Army  and  Navy. 

The  preparations  for  war  with  France  were  now 


MAC  OMB. 


25 


urged  with  more  and  more  activity.  General  Washington 
was  in  vited  to  the  chief  command  of  the  forces.  The  other 
General  officers  were  also  named.  They  assembled  at 
the  seat  of  Government  to  make  preliminary  arrange 
ments  for  the  defence  of  the  country,  to  organize  the 
army,  and  select,  from  the  numerous  applicants,  the 
officers  to  be  appointed  from  the  several  States.  Gene 
ral  Hamilton,  who  was  personally  acquainted  with 
young  Macomb,  and  had  discovered  the  early  presages 
of  his  future  eminence,  with  his  usual  insight  into  cha 
racter,  recommended  him  to  the  President  for  the  ap 
pointment  of  Cornet,  with  the  remark  that  he  was 
"young,  active,  and  ambitious."  His  name  was  ac 
cordingly  submitted  to  the  Senate,  on  the  31st  of  De 
cember,  1798.  He  was  confirmed  as  a  Cornet  of  Light 
Dragoons,  and  commissioned  to  take  rank  on  the  10th 
of  January,  1799,  whence  he  dates  his  military  service 
in  the  Army  of  the  United  States. 

The  Army  at  this  time,  as  actually  raised,  consisted 
of  four  Regiments  of  Infantry,  and  two  troops  of  Dra 
goons,  destined  for  the  protection  of  our  inland  frontiers, 
and  stationed  in  the  Indian  country ;  and  of  two  Regi 
ments  of  Artillerists  and  Engineers,  forming  the  garri 
sons  of  our  maritime  frontier  and  the  principal  forts  on 
the  Lakes. 

Although  General  Washington  was  appointed  Com- 
3 


26  MEMOIR    OF 

mander  in  Chief,  the  active  command  of  the  whole 
Army  was  devolved  by  him  on  Major  General  Alexan 
der  Hamilton,  who  was  next  in  rank  to  Washington. 
The  whole  force,  notwithstanding,  was  divided  into 
separate  commands  under  the  several  Generals.  The 
troops  north  of  the  Potomac  were  the  designated  com 
mand  of  General  Hamilton  ;  those  south  of  that  liver, 
of  Major  General  Charles  Cotsworth  Pinckney ;  and 
those  west  of  the  mountains,  being  the  old  troops,  of 
Brig.  General  James  Wilkinson.  Brig.  General  "Wil 
liam  North  was  appointed  Adjutant  General,  and  sta 
tioned  in  New- York,  near  the  Head  Quarters  of  Gene 
ral  Hamilton.  In  the  organization  of  the  Staff,  young 
Macomb,  although  now  scarce  seventeen  years  of  age. 
was  appointed  an  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  and  at 
tached  to  General  North. 

By  this  fortunate  circumstance,  was  probably  laid  the 
foundation  of  that  familiar  and  accurate  knowledge  of 
the  principles  and  practice  of  his  profession,  of  the  du 
ties  both  of  officers  and  soldiers,  in  their  minutest  details 
as  well  as  in  their  most  comprehensive  scope,  which 
has  ever  distinguished  his  subsequent  career  in  arms. 
Beside  the  advantage  of  habitual,  frequent  intercourse 
with  that  exalted  character  General  Hamilton,  General 
North,  Macomb's  immediate  master,  was  reputed  one  of 
the  most  scientific  and  practical  officers  of  the  revolu- 


MACOMB.  27 

tionary  Army.  He  had  been  the  Aide  de  Camp  of  that 
excellent  soldier  Baron  Steuben,  and  rendered  him  valu 
able  assistance  in  the  introduction  and  establishment 
of  a  regular  system  of  police,  tactics,  discipline,  and  ac 
countability.  He  was  continued  in  the  Army  after  the 
Revolution,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  small 
force  retained  for  the  protection  of  our  infant  settlements 
and  exposed  frontiers  against  the  inroads  of  the  savages. 
In  addition  to  the  duties  which  appertained  to  the 
Adjt.  General's  oiFice,  so  well  calculated  to  fami 
the  mind  with  all  the  varied  operations  of  an  Army, 
affording  the  best  school  which  a  camp  can  offer  to  all 
attached  to  that  department.  General  North,  who  was 
also,  ex  officio,  Assistant  Inspr.  General,  was  required 
to  discharge  other  important  functions  ;  being  engaged, 
in  this  latter  capacity,  with  General  Hamilton,  the  In 
spector  General,  in  forming  and  examining  the  several 
corps,  as  also  in  compiling  and  adapting  systems  of 
regulation  for  each  arm  of  service.  Discussions  were 
frequent  between  the  Adjutant  General  and  the  Inspect 
or  General;  and  many  principles  were  settled  growing 
out  of  command,  courts  martial,  and  other  points  of 
duty,  in  the  course  of  service,  which  were  referred  to  the 
Head  Quarters  of  the  Army.  These  gentlemen,  school 
ed  in  the  Army  of  the  Revolution,  formed  their  opi 
nions  on  the  coolest  judgment  and  the  strictest  military 


30  MEMOIR    OF 

principles.  Justice  to  the  officers  of  that  Arrny,  gene 
rally,  warrants  the  acknowledgment,  that  they  not 
only  learned  the  theory  of  war,  but  reduced  it  to  prac 
tice,  according  to  the  then  most  approved  rules  of  the  art, 
and  in  a  manner  worthy  the  imitation  of  all  their  suc 
cessors.  The  Order  Books  of  General  Washington  and 
the  military  correspondence  of  the  times  will  be  found, 
on  recurrence  to  them,  pregnant  with  lessons  of  wisdom 
and  experience.  Subordination,  a  nice  adjustment  of  du 
ties,  a  rigid  execution  of  those  duties,  a  spirit  of  chivalry  and 
patriotism,  untaught  by  other  records,  breathe  through 
the  whole  of  them.  An  eulogy  similar  to  that  on  the  old 
Congress,  which,  flowing  from  the  eloquent  lips  of  Chat 
ham,  immortalized  both  the  speaker  and  his  subject, 
might  well  be  pronounced  on  the  achievements  without 
means,  on  the  sufferings  without  parallel,  on  the  un 
sleeping  eye  and  unwearied  arm,  the  enduring  constan 
cy,  the  self-sacrificing  devotedness,  the  Grecian  genius, 
and  more  than  Roman  hardihood,  of  THE  ARMY  OP 
THE  REVOLUTION. 

In  order  to  their  instruction,  the  troops  were  briga 
ded  and  cantoned  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  re 
ference  being  had  to  their  advantageous  position  for 
the  defence  of  the  country  in  case  of  invasion.  Gene 
rals  Hamilton  and  North  personally  superintended  their 
instruction,  which  further  enabled  Macomb,  who  al- 


MAC  OMB. 


29 


ways  accompanied  them,  to  improve  himself  in  his  pro 
fession.  France  having  at  length  yielded  to  a  satis 
factory  arrangement,  the  Army  was  reduced  to  the 
number  of  Regiments  which  formed  the  establishment 
prior  to  1799.  Macomb  availed  himself  of  the  permission 
of  General  Hamilton  to  go  into  Canada,  and  see  the 
British  troops  stationed  at  Montreal  and  in  its  vicinity, 
in  order  to  make  himself  acquainted  with  the  mode  of 
discipline  practised  by  the  British  Army. 

He  was  kindly  received  by  the  British  Commanding 
General  Napier  Christie  Burton,  and  the  other  officers  of 
that  station.  Every  facility  was  granted  him  for  visit 
ing  the  troops  in  quarters  and  when  under  arms  at 
the  frequent  reviews  of  manoeuvre  and  inspection.  He 
was,  besides,  much  favoured  through  the  influence  of 
Sir  John  Johnson,  the  uncle  of  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Kennedy,  whose  invitation  to  reside  at  his  mansion  he 
accepted  during  the  period  of  his  visit  at  that  city. 

On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he  found  himself 
retained  in  the  military  establishment  as  a  second  Lieu 
tenant  in  one  of  the  old  Troops  of  Dragoons,  which 
composed  part  of  his  former  Regiment.  This  com 
mission  he  received  the  10th  of  February,  1801,  from 
the  hand  of  President  Jefferson.  He  was  now  ordered, 
on  the  recruiting  service,  to  Philadelphia.  This  city 
offered  many  advantages  to  a  young  man  of  the  age  of 


30  MEMOIR    OF 

Macomb,  then  about  nineteen  years  old.  Accomplish 
ed  society,  choice  and  extensive  libraries,  and  public 
institutions  of  almost  every  kind,  were  well  calculated 
to  engage  the  attention,  and  improve  the  leisure,  of 
those  who  would  frequent  them.  Instead  of  yielding 
to  the  wonted  dissipation  or  idle  amusements  of  youth, 
he  devoted  himself  to  sober  employments,  or  indulged 
in  those  refined  pleasures  of  literary  and  social  com 
munion  which  the  city  of  "  brotherly  love"  presented. 
He  was  particularly  fortunate  in  meeting  here  an  able 
French  officer  of  Engineers  ;  who,  escaping  the  pro 
scriptions  of  his  own  country,  sought  our  shores,  but, 
like  most  of  his  exiled  countrymen,  brought  no  re 
sources  beyond  his  education,  talent,  and  address. 
Taken  with  the  open  air  and  vivacious  spirit  of  Ma- 
comb,  he  was  delighted  to  find  in  him  a  companion 
who  spoke  his  own  language ;  and  proposed  to  pass 
him  through  a  course  of  instruction  in  the  science  of 
fortification  and  military  topography.  The  proposition 
was  quickly  accepted,  as  it  tended  to  open  to  him  a 
further  progress  in  important  branches  of  his  profession, 
and  to  keep  alive  his  knowledge  of  the  French  Lan 
guage.  He  now  also  commenced  a  friendship,  which 
each  subsequent  year  served  only  to  confirm,  with 
Jonathan  Williams,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  learning  and 
science,  who  had  just  been  appointed  Major  of  one  of 


MACOMB.  31 

the  Battalions  of  the  2d  Regiment  of  Artillerists  and 
Engineers,  and  Inspector  of  Fortifications,  and  who, 
afterwards,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Corps  of  En 
gineers. 

Having  raised  a  handsome  body  of  recruits,  Macomb 
marched  them  to  join  the  Army  under  Gen.  Wilkinson 
at  Pittsburg.  Although,  as  a  Dragoon  Officer,  entitled 
to  be  mounted,  yet  having  a  number  of  Subaltern  offi 
cers  of  Infantry  under  his  command,  he  declined  any 
exclusive  personal  indulgence,  and  proceeded  with  the 
party  on  foot  a  distance,  by  the  ancient  route,  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  miles.  An  humorous  occurrence, 
not  devoid  of  interest  in  a  military  point  of  view,  hap 
pened  to  the  detachment  on  the  way,  which  is  still 
well  remembered  by  the  inhabitants  near  Turtle  Creek. 
An  officer  of  superior  rank,  heading  a  small  body  of 
recruits,  overtook  Macomb's,  at  Chambersburg,  and, 
uniting  forces,  assumed  the  command  of  the  whole. 
The  party,  now  consisting  of  about  150  men,  with  the 
usual  complement  of  women,  halted  in  the  morning 
on  an  island  near  the  crossing  place  at  Turtle  Creek. 
This  was  in  the  month  of  May,  when  heavy  showers 
are  frequent  in  the  mountains  bordering  the  Creek. 
Macomb,  being  officer  of  the  day,  and  learning  the  in 
tention  of  the  Commanding  Officer  to  encamp  on  the 
island,  remonstrated  against  the  measure,  alleging  that 


32  MEMOIR  OF 

the  island,  lying  under  the  mountains,  was  obviously 
liable  to  be  inundated,  pointing  out  at  the  same  time 
the  drift  wood  on  the  head  of  the  island,  as  an  evident 
indication  of  that  fact.  The  Commanding  Officer, 
disdaining  the  representations  of  his  junior,  authorita 
tively  ordered  the  tents  to  be  pitched.  The  camp  was 
soon  formed — the  men  became  busy  in  brushing  up 
their  arms  and  accoutrements — and  the  women  in 
washing  their  clothes.  At  tattoo,  they  retired  to  rest. 
But  the  day  had  scarcely  closed,  when  appalling  thun 
der  indicated  too  clearly  a  coming  flood.  Pouring 
down  the  sides  of  the  mountains,  the  rain  soon  swelled 
the  water  of  the  Creek,  which  at  noon  was  nearly  dry, 
to  a  level  with  the  island.  Through  the  pitchy  dark 
ness  of  the  night,  the  lightnings  revealed  the  approach 
ing  danger.  The  torrents  continued  to  pour,  and  the 
floods  to  rise.  The  drums  beat  to  arms — the  tents 
were  struck — the  wagons  were  made  fast  to  any  fix 
ture — the  women  scrambled  into  the  wagons,  and  the 
men  up  the  trees — and  the  horses  were  swum  by  their 
drivers  across  the  Creek.  In  this  plight,  so  ludicrous 
if  it  had  not  been  dangerous,  in  which  they  remained 
through  the  night,  daylight  both  exposed  and  relieved 
them.  The  inhabitants  came  to  their  rescue  on  floats, 
from  which,  on  returning,  many  were  swept  by  the 
force  of  the  stream,  and  floated  about  like  the  fragments 


MACOMB.  33 

of  a  wreck.  On  main  land  once  more,  from  the  disa- 
gremen  of  accompanying  a  drenched  and  all  but 
drowned  party,  which  a  little  while  before  had  worn  a 
most  soldier-like  appearance,  and  which  Macomb  had 
spared  neither  pains  nor  expense  in  equipping  and  or 
namenting,  he  was  extricated  by  his  Commanding 
Officer,  who,  having  now  dearly  bought  an  useful  les 
son  in  the  art  of  castrametation:  and  learned  to  appre 
ciate  Macomb's  advice,  despatched  him  to  Gen.  Wil 
kinson  for  fresh  supplies  of  provisions  and  clothing. 

The  detachment  having  at  length  arrived  at  the 
Head  Quarters  of  General  Wilkinson,  was  marched 
into  a  camp,  which  had  been  formed  for  the  instruction 
of  recruits,  destined  to  fill  the  several  Regiments  sta 
tioned  on  the  Lakes  and  other  western  waters.  In 
this  camp,  through  a  precaution  of  the  utmost  import 
ance  to  an  army,  all  recruits  were  inoculated  to  guard 
them  against  the  small-pox,  previously  to  joining  their 
respective  Regiments.  While  at  Pittsburg,  Macomb 
met  his  friend  Major  Williams,  who,  as  Inspector  of 
Fortifications,  had  been  making  an  examination  of  the 
Niagara  frontier,  and  who  was  then  engaged  in  project 
ing  a  work  to  be  erected  on  Black  Rock,  opposite  Fort 
Erie.  The  Major,  in  the  press  of  business,  required  an 
assistant,  and  knowing  Macomb  to  have  paid  attention 
to  the  study  of  fortification,  obtained  an  order  from  the 


34  MEMOIR    OF 

Commanding  General  for  his  aid  in  preparing  the  draw 
ings,  calculations,  estimates  and  memoirs,  necessary  to 
illustrate  the  plans  of  the  proposed  work.  As  lie  had 
now  been  some  time  with  the  troops  under  General 
Wilkinson,  the  latter  mentioned  to  him  that  he  had 
received  letters  from  Generals  Hamilton  and  North,  re 
commending  him  to  his  care  and  protection.  Although 
Wilkinson  had  not  thus  far  evinced  any  special  regard 
for  him,  yet  he  had  not  been  unobservant  of  his  con 
duct  in  camp,  and  expressed  himself  pleased  with  his 
attention  to  his  duties.  The  General  then  directed 
that  the  detachments  in  the  camp  of  instruction  should 
join  their  Regiments,  and  invited  Lieut.  Mnromb  to 
become  a  member  of  his  military  family  in  the  quality 
of  an  extra  Aide  de  Camp. 

Shortly  after  Macomb  had  entered  the  encampment 
beyond  the  Allegheny,  an  incident  occurred  which 
came  near  doing  him  a  serious  injury.  An  officer 
visited  him  in  his  tent,  and  in  the  course  of  convnva- 
tion,  broached  the  politics  of  the  day,  the  principal 
theme  of  which  was  the  change  of  administration,  Mr. 
Jefferson  having  been  not  long  before  elected  to  the 
Presidency.  This  officer  was  very  abusive  of  the  new 
President,  in  terms  not  merely  indecorous,  but  punish 
able  by  the  Articles  of  War.  Disapproving  of  such  in 
temperance,  Macomb  begged  him  not  to  continue  a 


MACOMB.  35 

language,  so  disrespectful  to  the  head  of  the  Army  and 
the  Nation,  and  which,  used  any  where  but  in  his  own 
tent,  he  would  feel  constrained  to  notice,  as  a  breach  of 
discipline.  The  expressions  were  overheard,  attributed 
to  Macomb,  and  reported  to  Head  Quarters,  for  which 
he  received  a  severe  reprimand.  He,  however,  soon 
succeeded  in  satisfying  the  General  of  his  innocence  of 
the  charge,  though  without  exposing  the  officer  guilty 
of  the  indecorum. 

The  camp  being  broken  up,  he  repaired  to  Head 
Quarters,  to  take  upon  him  the  duties  of  Aide  de  Camp. 
General  Wilkinson  had.  for  some  time,  been  collecting 
troops  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  at  a  place  called 
AVilkiusonville,  with  a  view  to  form  a  camp  of  instruc- 
sion,  on  a  scale  sufficiently  extensive  to  enable  him  to 
practice  the  evolutions  of  the  Line,  and  give  the  officers 
a  more  practical  knowledge  of  their  duties.  The  2d 
Regiment  of  Infantry  under  Col.  Strong,  and  the  4th 
Regiment  under  Col.  Thomas  Butler,  together  with  a 
Battalion  of  Artillery,  formed  the  assembled  force.  The 
recruits  destined  to  fill  these  corps  were  embarked  at 
Pittsburg,  and  acted  as  the  crews  to  navigate  the  boats 
down  the  river.  The  position  selected  for  the  encamp 
ment  proved  unhealthy,  especially  to  the  Artillery  Bat 
talion,  and  the  2d  Regiment  composed  principally  of 
recruits.  But  the  4th  Regiment,  filled  with  a  hardy 


36  MEMOIR   OP 

set  of  old  soldiers,  long  accustomed  both  to  the  camp 
and  the  climate,  suffered  less.  Their  superior  health 
may  also,  probably,  be  attributed  to  their  use  of  the 
river  water,  there  being  no  springs  in  the  vicinity ;  while 
the  other  troops,  at  some  distance  from  the  4th  Regi 
ment,  derived  their  supply  of  water  from  springs,  pro 
bably  rendered  deleterious  by  some  mineral  impregna 
tion.  From  this  circumstance,  it  would  seem  expedient, 
in  stationary  encampments,  to  subject  the  water  for  the 
use  of  the  soldiery,  if  previously  untried,  to  a  chymical 
analysis.  The  prevailing  sickness  determined  the  Ge 
neral  to  remove  the  troops  further  up  the  Ohio,  to  a 
place  near  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland,  called  Smith- 
field. 

General  Wilkinson,  General  Pickens,  and  Colonel 
Hawkins,  were  now  appointed  Commissioners  to  treat 
with  the  Cherokees,  Chickasaws,  Choctaws,  and  Creeks, 
Tribes  of  Indians,  then  inhabiting  what  was  called  the 
South  Western  Territory,  a  considerable  tract  of  coun 
try  lying  between  the  States  of  Georgia,  South  Caroli 
na,  and  Tennessee,  the  Mississippi  River,  and  the  Flo- 
ridas.  This  Commission  was  appointed  to  assemble  at 
South  West  Point,  at  the  junction  of  the  Clinch  and 
Tennessee  Rivers,  in  the  month  of  August,  1801.  Ge 
neral  Wilkinson,  taking  with  him  Lieut.  Macomb,  who 
was  appointed  Secretary  to  this  commission,  left  Wil- 


MACOMB.  37 

kinsonville,  descended  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Cumberland,  thence  to  Eddyville,  where  he  was  met 
by  Mr.  Matthew  Lyon,  a  member  of  Congress,  who 
obligingly  showed  the  General  the  way  into  the  Bar 
rens,  which  lie  between  that  place  and  Nashville ;  and 
thence  proceeded  to  South  West  Point. 

The  Commissioners  failed  to  acquire  new  cessions  of 
land  from  the  Cherokees,  they  having  imbibed  ideas 
of  individual  property,  and  being  advanced,  far  beyond 
the  other  Tribes,  in  the  arts  of  civilization.  The  Com 
mission,  therefore,  on  the  llth  of  September  returned, 
descending  the  Tennessee  ;  and  having  their  arks  pre 
pared  at  Wil kinsonville,  continued  to  the  Chickasaw 
Bluff,  where  a  satisfactory  treaty  was  soon  negociated 
with  the  Chickasaws.  Thence  proceeding  down  the 
Mississippi  to  Fort  Adams,  about  thirty  miles  below 
Natchez,  a  position  taken  by  the  United  States  to  assert 
their  claim  to  the  line  of  limits  between  the  Floridas  and 
the  31st  degree  of  North  Latitude,  the  Commission, 
after  an  inspection  and  review  of  the  Troops,  opened  a 
negociation  with  the  Choctaws,  who  finally  entered 
into  the  arrangements  sought  by  the  Government. 
Winter  approaching,  it  being  now  the  beginning  of  De 
cember,  the  boats  were  abandoned,  and  the  country 
traversed  from  this  point  to  Fort  Wilkinson  on  the 
Oconee  in  Georgia,  near  which  Fort  measures  were  to 

4 


38 


MEMOIR  OF 


be  adopted  for  the  settlement  of  some  disputes,  and  to 
obtain  all  the  country,  as  far  as  the  Ocmulgee.  Ma- 
comb  still  accompanied  the  Commissioners,  who  set  out 
on  horseback,  with  a  small  guard  of  Light  Dragoons, 
for  Tuckabatche,  the  residence  of  the  United  States 
Agent,  Col.  Hawkins.  Here  he  spent  the  winter,  in 
the  very  heart  of  the  Creek  Nation,  Wilkinson  and 
Pickens  having  returned.  The  Creeks  assembled  in 
June,  1802,  and  the  treaty  was  concluded  the  ensuing 
month.  This  treaty  was  held  on  the  identical  spot,  on 
which  Milledgeville  is  built,  the  present  Capital  of  the 
State  of  Georgia,  It  was  now  upwards  of  300  days 
that  Macomb  had  been  engaged  in  the  Mission,  all  of 
which  time  he  spent,  in  the  woods,  among  the  Abori 
gines.  During  this  tour  Macomb  kept  a  minute  jour 
nal,  in  which  he  noted  the  courses  and  distances  of 
streams  and  positions,  the  productions  of  the  soil,  the 
geological  and  geographical  physiognomy  of  the  country. 
He  also  delineated  with  great  care  the  Tennessee  and 
Mississippi  rivers,  and  constructed  a  topographical  map, 
which  was  deposited  in  the  War  office  and  received  the 
marked  approval  of  Mr.  Jefferson. 

The  object  for  which  the  Commission  was  instituted 
having  been  accomplished,  as  far  as  practicable,  Ma 
comb  was  despatched  with  the  treaties  and  accounts 
to  Washington,  by  the  way  of  Charleston.  He  spent 


MAC  OMB.  39 

a  few  days  at  this  latter  city,  in  the  enjoyment  of  that 
elegant  hospitality  for  which  it  is  so  justly  celebrated,  and 
thence  proceeded  to  the  seat  of  Government.  While 
he  was  engaged  on  the  Commission,  our  little  army  had 
been  reduced.  The  four  Regiments  of  Infantry  were 
formed  into  two  Regiments,  and  the  two  Regiments  of 
Artillery  and  Engineers  into  one  Regiment  of  Artillery. 
The  Dragoons  were  disbanded,  and  a  Corps  of  Engi 
neers  was  authorized  to  be  raised,  to  consist  of  one  Ma 
jor,  two  Captains,  two  1st  and  two  2d  Lieutenants,  and 
ten  Cadets,  which  Corps  was  to  constitute,  when  or 
ganized,  the  Military  Academy  ;  the  President  being 
empowered  to  augment  the  Corps  and  make  promo 
tions  in  it,  with  a  view  to  particular  merit,  and  without 
regard  to  rank.  Lieutenant  Macomb  found  himself 
among  the  number  of  officers  retained,  and  arranged 
to  the  1st  Regiment  of  Infantry.  Feeling  rather  re 
duced  than  advanced,  in  his  relative  rank,  he  remon 
strated  with  the  Secretary  of  War.  The  Secretary 
replied  that  his  general  talents  and  merits  as  an  officer, 
especially  as  a  Draftsman  and  Engineer,  had  not  been 
overlooked — that  Major  Williams  had  made  a  highly 
favourable  report  of  him — and  that,  in  consequence,  a 
place  in  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  as  1st  Lieutenant,  had 
been  reserved  for  him,  should  it  be  agreeable  to  him  to 
accept  it.  Such  a  flattering  mark  of  attention  from  the 


40 


MEMOIR    OF 


Head  of  the  Department  must  have  been  highly  grati 
fying  to  Macomb,  who  had  always  aimed  to  make  him 
self  a  proficient  in  that  branch  of  service,  to  which  he 
was  to  be  transferred  ;  and  lie  accordingly  accepted  the 
commission,  bearing  date  the  12th  of  October,  1802. 

He  now  received  orders  to  repair  to  West  Point,  and 
report  himself  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Williams,  Super 
intendent  of  the  Military  Academy.  That  institution 
was  just  then  going  into  operation.  The  Field  Officers 
and  Captains  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers  acted  as  Pro 
fessors,  with  the  addition  of  two  Teachers,  one  of  the 
French  Language  and  one  of  Drawing.  The  Lieu 
tenants  and  Cadets  were  considered  as  students,  and 
were  obliged  to  go  through  the  established  course,  pre 
paratory  to  being  employed  on  the  fortifications.  At 
the  proper  time,  Lieutenant  Macomb  was  examined, 
and  declared  to  have  attained  the  requisite  qualifications, 
of  which  due  report  was  made  by  the  Superintendent 
to  the  War  Department.  He  may,  therefore,  be  con 
sidered  the  eldest  graduate,  now  in  the  service,  of  that 
institution.  He  was  then  appointed  to  do  the  duty  of 
Adjutant,  and  to  instruct  the  Cadets  in  their  military 
exercises.  He  was  the  officer  who  first  organized  them 
into  a  Corps,  and  put  arms  in  their  hands. 

In  the  ensuing  year,  July  23d,  1803,  he  married  his 
cousin,  Miss  Catharine  Macomb,  of  Belville,  in  New- 


MACOMB.  41 

Jersey,  a  beautiful  and  highly  accomplished  young 
Jady  of  sixteen.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year,  he  was 
ordered  to  attend  a  General  Court  Martial,  convened  at 
Fredericktown,  in  Maryland,  for  the  trial  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Butler.  The  Colonel,  it  seems,  had  refused 
to  obey  an  order  of  General  Wilkinson,  requiring  the 
hair  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  to  be  cropped.  The 
old  fashion  queue,  worn  in  the  revolution,  was  still  seen 
appended  to  the  venerable  heads  of  those  gallant  men, 
who  yet  remained  in  the  service  of  their  country.  This 
instance  of  disobedience  in  the  brave  veteran,  although 
undoubtedly  a  breach  of  rigid  discipline,  could  not  im 
peach  his  character,  nor  impair  his  standing.  While 
his  defence  was  reading  and  appeals  were  made  to  his 
past  services,  every  eye  melted  in  sympathy  and  sor 
row,  or  kindled  with  indignation  at  what  some  con 
ceived  an  arbitrary  exertion  of  authority.  The  Court, 
however,  sustained  the  validity  of  the  regulation,  and 
sentenced  the  Colonel  to  be  reprimanded  in  general  or 
ders.  Macomb  had  been  appointed  Judge  Advocate  to 
this  Court,  which  continued  its  session  for  the  trial  of 
several  other  officers.  During  the  trials,  Macomb  ac 
quitted  himself  so  well,  and  exhibited  so  correct  a  know 
ledge,  both  of  military  law  and  the  mode  of  proceed 
ings,  that  the  members  of  the  Court  suggested  to  him 
the  advantage  which  would  accrue  to  the  service,  if  he 

4* 


42 


MEMOIR    OF 


should  compose  a  Treatise  as  a  general  guide  for  the 
conduct  of  Courts  Martial :  a  work  which  he  subse 
quently  executed. 

As  a  great  proportion  of  the  Field  Officers  of  the 
Army,  representatives  from  every  Regiment  and  Corps, 
attended  the   General  Court  Martial,  Lieut.  Maconib, 
young  as  he  was,  submitted  to  them  the  expediency  of 
forming  all  the  officers  of  the  Army  into  a  society  for  the 
purpose  of  affording  protection  to  the  superannuated 
veteran,  and  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  such  officers 
as  might  die  in  the  service.     In  order  to  effect  this 
highly  laudable  object,  he  proposed  that  each  officer 
should  subscribe  a  certain   per-centage  on  his  pay,  and 
that  Congress  be  memorialized   to  grant  a  charter,  to 
gether  with  any  endowment  it  might  be  pleased  to 
appropriate.     The  project  was  laid  before  the  Secretary 
of  War,  who  gave  it  his  sanction  ;  but,  before  any  step 
could  be  taken  toward  its  accomplishment,  the  officers 
had  returned  to  their  respective  stations.     It  is  to  be 
hoped,  however,  that  so  benevolent  a  plan  of  perma 
nent  utility  may  yet  be  realized. 

Macomb  returned  to  West  Point,  where  he  conti 
nued  his  studies  and  military  exercises,  except  when 
called  off,  to  act  as  Judge  Advocate  or  member  of  Ge 
neral  Courts  Martial,  until  some  time  in  May,  1805, 
when  he  repaired  to  Washington  to  make  a  final  set- 


MAC  OMB.  43 

dement  of  his  accounts,  as  late  Secretary  to  the  Com 
missioners,  which  had  not  been  closed,  although  ren 
dered  at  the  proper  time.  He  availed  himsef  of  this 
opportunity  to  present  a  very  strong  letter,  recommend 
ing  him  for  promotion,  from  his  Colonel  the  Superin 
tendent  of  the  Military  Academy,  together  with  a  letter 
from  the  Commissioners,  expressing  their  entire  satis 
faction  with  his  services,  and  commending  him  warm 
ly  to  the  patronage  of  the  Government.  General  Dear 
born,  the  then  Secretary  of  War,  approved  his  accounts, 
and  ordered  a  letter  of  appointment  to  be  issued  to  Ma- 
comb  as  Captain  in  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  bearing  rank 
from  the  llth  of  June,  1805. 

The  works  in  the  harbour  of  Portsmouth,  in  the 
State  of  New-Hampshire,  requiring  repairs,  Captain 
Macomb  was  now  ordered  thither.  Having  satisfacto 
rily  finished  this  labour,  he  was  next  year  appointed 
Superintendent  of  the  important  public  works  then 
being  erected  at  Mount  Dearborn,  on  the  Cataba  river 
in  South  Carolina,  about  thirty-six  miles  above  Cam- 
den,  where  it  was  intended  to  establish  a  Depot  and 
national  Armory  for  the  Southern  States.  It  was 
during  the  period  of  his  employment  at  this  place,  that 
he  compiled  his  treatise  on  Courts  Martial,  in  conform 
ity  with  the  wishes  formerly  expressed  by  his  brother 
officers.  He  submitted  it  to  the  inspection  of  General 


44 


MEMOIR    OP 


William  R.  Davie,  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  Revo 
lution,  a  profound  jurist,  a  gentleman  who  had  approved 
himself  at  once  a  scholar,  statesman,  and  soldier.  He 
happened  to  be  one  of  Macomb's  nearest  neighbours, 
being  settled  on  his  farm  called  Tivoli,  near  Landsford, 
almost  eighteen  miles  distant  from  Mount  Dearborn. 
The  isolated  situation  of  Davie  and  Macomb  rendered 
an  intercourse  exceedingly  agreeable,  which  soon  ripen 
ed  into  intimacy  and  friendship.  Perhaps  no  man 
could  have  been  a  better  Mentor  for  an  young  soldier, 
than  General  Davie  ;  for  he  had  practiced  the  art  of  war 
in  the  field,  was  conversant  with  the  events  of  the 
Revolution,  familiar,  by  his  political  and  historical  stu 
dies,  with  the  theory  and  operation  of  governments, 
and,  having  been  Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  to  France  during  the  Consulate  of  Buo 
naparte,  he  had  witnessed  the  preparations  for  that 
splendid  campaign  which  brought  on  the  battle  of  Ma- 
rengo,  and  carefully  acquainted  himself  with  all  the 
military  as  well  as  political  improvements  which  were 
making  in  that  country  in  those  brilliant  days  of  her 
prowess  and  renown.  Such  was  the  exalted  opinion 
entertained  of  his  character  and  capacity,  that  he  was 
offered  in  the  late  war  the  appointment  of  Major  Gene 
ral,  although  of  the  party  opposed  to  the  Administra 
tion,  but  which  appointment  he  declined  only,  however, 


MACOMB.  45 

on  account  of  his  infirmities,  the  result  of  a  severe 
wound  at  the  battle  of  Stono  in  the  revolutionary  war. 
Maconib  submitted  his  Treatise  to  the  criticism,  also, 
of  Major  General  Charles  Cotsworth  Pinckney,  another 
worthy  of  the  Revolution,  an  associate  of  Davie  in  the 
mission  to  France,  and  alike  distinguished  by  his  mili 
tary  acquirements  and  profound  legal  knowledge. 
These  gentlemen  pruned  it  of  what  they  considered  of 
a  doubtful  character,  and  suggested  such  improvements 
as  their  judgment  dictated.  The  work  was  then  print 
ed,  and  presented  to  the  Government.  It  received  the 
approbation  of  the  President  and  the  Secretary  of  War, 
was  adopted  as  the  standard  for  the  guidance  of  Courts 
Martial,  and  issued  to  the  Army.  It  has  ever  since 
retained  its  official  character,  well  sustained  by  its  in 
trinsic  merits. 

Captain  Macomb  continued  to  conduct  the  works  at 
Mount  Dearborn  until  the  year  1807,  when  he  was  in* 
structed  to  take  the  general  direction,  as  Chief  Engi 
neer,  of  the  fortifications  and  other  works  contemplated 
for  the  defence  of  the  harbours  of  the  two  Carolinas  and 
Georgia.  The  conduct,  at  this  time,  of  certain  British 
vessels  of  war  on  our  coast  had  been  such  as  to  oblige 
President  Jefferson  to  issue  his  proclamation,  interdicting 
them  the  waters  of  the  United  States.  The  Authori 
ties  of  Charleston,  finding  their  city  much  exposed 


16  MEMOIR    OF 

from  the  dilapidated  condition  into  which  the  forts  had 
fallen,  became  alarmed  for  their  safety  in  the  case  of  a 
rupture  with  Great  Britain,  especially  as  a  vessel  of  war, 
subsequently  to  the  proclamation,  had  entered  the  har 
bour,  forcibly  obtained  a  supply  of  water,  and  threatened 
retaliation.  At  the  request  of  the  Commander  of  the 
harbour,  and  to  satisfy  the  citizens,  Macomb  repaired 
to  Charleston,  erected  some  temporary  batteries  at 
Fort  Johnson,  and  mounted  a  sufficient  number  of 
heavy  guns  to  make  it  inexpedient  for  any  vessel  of 
war  to  venture  within  reach  of  them.  He  then  made 
a  reconnoisance  of  the  whole  coast  from  Occracock 
Inlet  to  the  River  St.  Mary's,  which  divided  the  United 
States  from  the  Floridas,  and  projected  a  system  of 
temporary  works  for  the  defence  of  all  the  principal  har 
bours  and  inlets. 

The  attack  upon  the  Frigate  Chesapeake  by  the 
Leopard,  a  British  ship  of  war,  in  June,  1807,  roused 
the  people  to  a  sense  of  their  violated  sovereignty.  All 
parties  exclaimed,  with  one  voice,  that  instant  measures 
should  be  adopted  to  redress  our  injured  honour,  and 
vindicate  our  flag  on  land  and  water.  Congress, 
almost  always  lagging  behind  the  people,  yet  yielded 
appropriations  for  fortifying  the  principal  points  on  our 
coasts ;  and  augmented  the  Army,  by  one  Regiment 
of  Riflemen,  and  one  Regiment  of  Light  Artillery,  one 


.MACOMB.  47 

Regiment  of  Light  Dragoons,  and  five  Regiments  of 
Infantry.  They  also  provided  for  an  increase  of  the 
naval  force,  and  for  calling  out  the  Militia  and  Volun 
teers. 

Previously  to  the  raising  of  this  additional  force,  Ma- 
comb  had  been  promoted  to  be  Major  of  the  Corps  of 
Engineers,  taking  rank  from  the  3d  of  February,  1808. 
Arrangements  having  been  made  for  the  com 
mencement  of  the  works  along  the  coast,  Major  Ma- 
comb  began  those  intended  for  the  defence  of  Charles 
ton,  and  superintended  them  until  the  spring  of  1812. 
On  the  25th  of  February,  1811,  Macomb  had  been 
promoted  to  be  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  same  Corps. 
In  the  month  of  September  ensuing,  he  was  detailed 
to  sit  as  a  member  of  a  General  Court  Martial,  assem 
bled  at  Fredericktown,  in  Maryland,  for  the  trial  of 
Major  General  Wilkinson,  his  old  Commander  and 
friend.  The  General,  however,  was  honourably  acquit 
ted  of  all  the  articles  of  accusation.  The  sympathy, 
formerly  exhibited  by  the  generous-hearted  inhabitants 
of  this  town  on  the  trial  of  Butler,  was  now,  in  an 
equal  degree,  extended  toward  Wilkinson,  a  man  of 
genius  and  courage,  of  military  experience,  learning, 
and  resources,  and  yet  the  victim  of  misfortune.  The 
American  People  instinctively  repel  the  idea  of  oppres- 


48 


MEMOIR    OP 


sion,  assume  what  guise  it  may  ;  and  hence  are  predis 
posed  to  shield  the  persecuted  and  the  unfortunate. 

Parties  in  the  United  States,  at  this  time,  were  in 
fearful  collision.  The  distracted  and  conflicting  opi 
nions  in  Congress  rendered  the  course  it  would  pursue, 
impossible  to  conjecture.  Between  the  English  Orders 
in  Council,  and  the  Berlin  and  Milan  Decrees,  our  com 
merce  was  all  but  annihilated,  and  our  resources  pro 
portionally  diminished.  In  this  crisis  of  affairs,  finding 
peace  for  themselves  impracticable  between  the  two 
belligerents,  the  United  States  were  compelled,  once 
more,  to  appeal  to  the  sword,  as  the  final  arbiter  of  dis 
putes  which  negociation  had  failed  to  reach.  The  mili 
tary  and  naval  establishments,  by  successive  legislation, 
were  increased.  The  Secretary  of  War  Eustis,  desiring 
Lieut.  Col.  Macomb,  to  assist  him  in  organizing  the  new 
Army,  called  him  from  his  duties  as  Chief  Engineer  for 
the  Southern  States,  and  appointed  him,  on  the  28th 
April,  1812,  Adjutant  General  at  the  seat  of  Government. 
In  this  momentous  exigency,  lie  was  charged  with  the 
most  important  trusts.  Every  thing  was  to  be  remoulded 
and  cast  into  a  warlike  frame.  The  defects  of  the  former 
system,  growing  up  through  a  long  period  of  peace, 
were  palpable  and  manifold.  The  want  of  a  wrell  ar 
ranged  Staff,  susceptible  of  expansion  to  suit  the  emer 
gencies  of  active  service  ;  of  general,  regimental,  com- 


MACOMB. 


49 


pany,  and  garrison  regulations  ;  of  local  arrangements 
into  departments  and  districts  ;  of  an  uniform  course  of 
tactics  ;  of  a  regular,  rigid  system  of  disbursements  and 
accountability ;  was  to  be  supplied.  The  Regiments, 
raised  under  the  several  acts  of  Congress,  were  differ 
ently  constituted,  both  as  to  the  strength  of  companies, 
and  the  number  of  companies  in  a  Regiment,  although 
of  the  same  Corps — some  conforming  to  the  English, 
others  to  the  French  model.  All  these  irregularities,  he 
perceived,  at  once,  with  a  keen  military  ken,  could  be 
productive  only  of  confusion,  extravagance,  and  ineffi 
ciency,  and  consequent  disaster  and  disgrace.  He,  there 
fore,  with  wonted  zeal  and  persevering  energy,  bent 
himself  down  to  the  task  of  their  reformation.  He  ex 
erted  his  best  capacity  to  establish  an  uniform  organ 
ization  through  the  army,  and  to  introduce  appropriate 
instructions  for  the  respective  arms  of  service.  He  also 
proceeded,  in  conjunction  with  General  Smyth  the  In 
spector  General,  and  Colonel  Pike  the  Acting  Quarter 
Master  General,  to  designate  and  define  the  duties  of 
the  General  Staff,  to  create  depots  of  recruits,  and  in 
fuse  a  spirit  of  activity  into  the  preparations  for  the 
coming  conflict.  These  arduous  duties  he  effectually 
discharged,  as  far  as  limited  time  ami  means,  and  the 
pressure  of  the  occasion,  would  permit. 

While  thus  employed,  Colonel  Williams,  finding  him- 
5 


50  MEMOIR    OF 

self  incompetent,  from  the  infirmities  of  advancing  age, 
to  the  personal  performance  of  his  functions  as  Com 
mander  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  offered  to  resign  in 
favour  of  Lieut.  Col.  Macomb ;  but  Macomb,  in  com 
mon  with  the  other  members  of  the  Corps,  cherishing 
a  high  regard  for  Williams,  both  as  a  valuable  officer, 
and  an  estimable  man,  begged  him  to  remain  at  the 
head  of  the  Corps  and  the  Academy,  as  their  Parent 
and  Patron,  "  decusque  ornamentum  ;"  while  Macomb, 
though  stationed  at  the  Seat  of  Government,  charged 
himself  with  the  duties  and  responsibility  of  the  imme 
diate  command.  This  arrangement,  so  generous  in 
Macomb,  as  well  as  honourable  to  the  character,  and 
gratifying  to  the  feelings  of  Col.  Williams,  was  accepted 
by  him  with  the  liveliest  sensibility  and  gratitude. 

War  was,  at  length,  determined  on.  It  was  not  for  a 
man  like  Macomb  to  linger  among  the  bureaux  and  in 
the  coteries  of  Washington,  when  the  star-studded  ban 
ner,  emblem  of  freedom  and  the  Republic,  was  unfurled 
upon  our  ramparts,  and  floating  in  the  camp.  Our 
republican  Court  could  present  no  allurements  to  him, 
while  the  laurelled  field  of  war  was  outspread  before 
him — victory,  with  her  palmy  honours,  beckoning  him 
to  her  embrace — and  a  nation's  wrongs  crying  to  her 
champions  for  redress.  He  immediately  sought  a  com 
mand  in  the  line  of  the  Army.  This,  as  an  officer  of 


MACOMB.  51 

the  Engineers,  under  the  existing  rules  of  service,  he 
could  not  receive. 

In  a  conversation  with  Calhoun  and  Lowndes,  mem 
bers  of  Congress,  from  South  Carolina,  on  the  disad 
vantage  and  injustice  of  depriving  the  Engineers  of 
the  right  of  command,  because  their  functions  apper 
tained  to  the  higher  branches  of  military  science,  Ma- 
comb  urged  that  the  avowed  motive  of  their  exclusion 
from  the  common  privilege  of  officers  was  the  strongest 
possible  argument  for  their  possession  of  it ;  and,   to 
illustrate  this  position,  stated,  by  way  of  example,  that 
if  the  city  of  Washington  should  be  attacked,  and  an 
officer  of  the  Engineers  be  present,  he,  although  possi 
bly  the  fittest  person  both  to  plan  and  to  execute  the 
means  of  its  defence,  could  not  exercise  command,  in 
accordance  with  his  rank.     Macomb,  also,  with  his  ac 
customed  forecast,  predicted  to  these  gentlemen,  that, 
in  the  event  of  war,  the  Capital  would,  in  all  propabi- 
lity.  be  attempted ;  and,  unless  the  necessary  measures 
of  defence  were  adopted,  would  be  carried  by  a  coup  de 
main,  there  being  so  many  avenues,  on  which  it  might 
be  approached  by  an  enemy  arriving  in  the  Chesapeake, 
Sacrificing  ROW,  without  hesitation,  his  permanent 
and  most  honuorable  situation  as  Chief  of  the  Engineer 
Corps,  Macomb  asked  to  be  appointed  to  one  of  the  new 
Regiments  of  Artillery.     New- York  being  considered 


52  MEMOIR    OF 

as  entitled  by  allotment  to  that  appointment,  it  was 
promised  to  him,  if  the  Delegation  of  his  State  would 
agree  to  recommend  him  for  it.  He  hinted  this  decla 
ration  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  the  Hon.  Samuel  L. 
Mitchell,  the  Senator  from  New- York,  who,  with 
cheerfulness  and  alacrity,  procured  the  assent  of  all 
the  Delegation.  Macomb  was  accordingly  commission 
ed  on  the  6th  of  July.  1812,  Colonel  of  the  3d  Regi 
ment  of  Artillery,  to  consist  of  twenty  companies,  of 
118  men  each.  Colonel  Macomb  forthwith  repaired  to 
New- York  and  commenced  the  raising  of  his  Regiment. 
Raised,  equipped,  organized,  and  disciplined,  under  his 
auspices,  it  soon  constituted  one  of  the  finest,  if  not  the 
very  best,  body  of  soldiers,  in  the  American  service. 
The  air,  esprit  du  corps,  and  efficiency  of  the  Regi 
ment,  the  character  and  intelligence  of  its  officers,  the 
strict  subordination,  soldierly  deportment,  and  practiced 
tactics  of  the  men,  were  universally  admired,  and  be 
came  a  model  for  the  imitation  of  the  Army.  The  ex 
ample  diffused  a  fine  impulse,  and  stimulated  the  emu 
lation  of  the  less  perfect  troops. 

He  assembled  his  Regiment  at  Greenbush  ;  and  in 
November,  1812,  marched  it,  by  forced  stages,  to  Sack- 
ett's  Harbour,  in  order  to  embark  it  on  board  Commo 
dore  Chauncey's  fleet,  for  the  purpose  of  making  an 
attack  on  Kingston.  But,  on  the  arrival  of  the  Regi- 


MACOMB. 


53 


mentj  Chauncey  had  sailed  ;  and  the  winter  prema 
turely  setting  in,  it  was  decided,  in  a  council  of  war,  in 
consequence  of  the  liability  of  the  Lake  to  be  suddenly 
frozen  over,  that  the  contemplated  enterprise  must  be 
deferred  until  the  Spring.  Macomb  was  compelled, 
therefore,  to  erect  a  cantonment  at  Sackett's  Harbour, 
when  the  troops  went  into  quarters,  the  1st  of  January 
ensuing,  necessarily  exposed,  until  that  time,  to  dwell, 
in  that  most  inclement  climate  and  season,  in  houses 
of  canvass  amid  banks  of  snow.  Colonel  Macomb  was 
authorized  to  assume  the  command  of  Sackett's  Har 
bour  and  the  adjacent  country,  and  also  to  convene 
General  Courts  Martial,  and  decide  on  their  proceed 
ings — so  that  he  was  now  invested  with  a  complete  and 
independent  command,  except  as  to  General  Dearborn 
the  Major  General  Commanding  in  Chief.  There 
were  assembled  at  this  station,  beside  sailors  and  ma 
rines  for  the  fleet,  a  considerable  number  of  militia, 
and  volunteers.  Such  were  the  conciliatory  manners 
and  Address  of  Colonel  Macomb,  that  an  entire  harmony 
of  feeling  and  co-operation  prevailed  throughout  his 
command,  notwithstanding  the  contrariety  of  characters 
and  variety  of  interests  composing  it.  The  troops  being 
settled  in  winter  quarters,  he  was  indefatigable  in  per 
sonally  attending  the  company  and  batallion  drills  and 
the  evolutions  of  the  line.  Being  for  the  most  part  in 


54  MEMOIR    OF 

the  immediate  command  of  the  troops  at  this  station,  it 
was  his  habit  and  delight  to  practice  them  in  all  the 
varied  combinations  and  manoeuvres  of  tactical  science 
and  skill,  the  amount  of  force  being  sufficient  to  illus 
trate,  practically,  all  the  movements  of  an  army,  with 
the  different  arms  proper  to  its  composition.  He  fre 
quently  exercised  them  also  on  the  ice  of  the  Lakes,  to 
inure  them  to  the  rigours  of  the  cold  and  the  fatigues 
of  marching. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  winter  of  1812-13,  he  re 
vived  the  design  of  attacking  Kingston,  principally  with 
the  view  of  destroying  the  enemy's  vessels  of  war 
moored  in  the  ice  of  that  harbour.  As  some  irregu 
larities  had  taken  place  along  the  frontier,  disturbing 
the  peaceful  inhabitants  on  either  border,  he  availed 
himself  of  that  circumstance  as  a  pretext  for  sending  a 
flag  of  truce  across  the  Lake,  ostensibly  to  bear  a  com 
plaint  against  these  marauding  parties,  and  the  propo 
sal  of  an  arrangement  for  putting  a  stop  to  such  grie 
vances  in  future ;  but  really  to  ascertain  whethe'*  the 
ice  was  sufficiently  sound,  and  free  from  crevices,  in 
the  whole  direction  to  Kingston.  This  mission  was 
intrusted  to  Captain,  now  Colonel  Crane,  of  the  Artil 
lery.  The  flag  was  borne  on  a  Cariole,  which  entered 
the  town  unobserved,  proceeded  to  the  Quarters  of  the 
British  General,  and  returned  without  interruption, 


MAC  OMB  55 

bringing  the  desired  intelligence.  The  troops,  mean 
while,  were  duly  prepared  :  and  the  sailors,  under  Cap 
tain  Leonard  of  the  Navy,  were  furnished  with  ladders 
for  scaling  the  sides  of  the  Birtish  ships.  To  cover 
the  design,  an  alarm  was  circulated,  that  Sir  George 
Provost  was  about  to  attack  Sackett's  Harbour,  and 
that  he  was  collecting  troops  at  Kingston  for  the  pur 
pose.  The  rumour,  spreading  on  the  wings  of  the 
wind,  reached  the  ears  of  General  Dearborn,  at  Alba 
ny,  who,  taking  it  for  a  real  alarm,  set  out  forthwith  in 
a  sleigh  and  four  horses,  and  reached  Sackett's  Har 
bour  in  48  hours.  To  convince  the  General  that  the 
whole  was  a  mere  device  to  deceive  the  enemy  was  found 
impossible.  No — he  had  received  credible  reports  from 
various  quarters  of  the  meditated  attack.  Under  this 
conviction,  he  ordered  all  our  troops  at  Pittsburgh  to 
hasten  to  the  succour  of  the  threatened  post.  The 
deep  snows  prevented  their  march  on  foot ;  and,  con 
sequently,  sleighs  were  hired  or  pressed  to  bring  on 
Chandler's  and  Pike's  Brigades,  by  the  St.  Lawrence 
route.  Instead  of  an  attack,  the  troops  were  now  put 
on  the  defensive.  Thus  the  incipient  project  was 
nipped  in  the  bud  :  a  sore  disappointment,  not  only  to 
Macomb,  but  to  the  officers  of  his  command,  who  were 
panting  for  victory,  and  who,  in  imagination,  had 
already  reaped  promotion. 


56  MEMOIR    OF 

Commodore  Chaunce}^  who  had  been  absent  at 
New- York,  during  the  early  part  of  the  winter,  after 
his  ^squadron  was  laid  up,  on  hearing  the  alarm,  had 
also  repaired  to  the  Harbour.  General  Dearborn, 
always  circumspect,  yet  firm,  soon  afterward  held  a 
council  of  war,  consisting  of  himself,  Commodore 
Chauncey,  and  Colonel  Macomb,  when  it  was  decided, 
that  the  season  was  too  far  advanced,  to  justify  the 
attack  of  Kingston  on  the  ice  ;  but  that  preparations 
should  be  made  for  an  attack  by  land  and  sea,  on  either 
Kingston  or  York  as  might  be  deemed  most  expedient, 
for  the  expulsion  of  the  British  forces  from  Lake  On 
tario,  and,  subsequently,  from  Fort  George  and  the 
Niagara  frontier.  General  Pike,  who  was  just  then 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  a  Brigadier,  was  to  conduct  the 
contemplated  expedition,  and  Colonel  Macomb  to  con 
tinue  in  command  of  Sackett's  Harbour.  York  was 
the  point  selected  for  attack.  Though  bravely  defended, 
it  was  still  more  bravely  captured,  by  many  feats  of 
heroism  ;  yet  with  great  loss  on  the  American  side,  from 
the  explosion  of  a  magazine.  The  ruins  of  York  were 
the  mausoleum  for  some  of  our  finest  soldiers ;  and  here 
the  gallant  Pike  breathed  out  his  spirit  into  the  arms  of 
victory. 

The  attack  on  Fort  George  was  to  be  the  next  en 
terprise.  Macomb's  Regiment,  both  from  its  established 


MACOMB.  67 

discipline  and  the  nature  of  its  arm,  was  regarded  by 
General  Dearborn  as  the  most  suitable  for  the  defence 
of  Sackett's  Harbour,  and  was  reluctant  to  withdraw  it 
from  that  important  post.  Yet  as  the  officers  of  that 
Regiment  could  ill  restrain  their  impatience  to  partici 
pate  in  the  movements  of  the  field  and  the  honours  of 
conquest,  and  earnestly  petitioned  to  join  the  enterprise, 
the  Commander  in  Chief  yielded  up,  in  a  degree,  the 
dictates  of  his  own  judgment  to  the  gratification  of  their 
ambition,  and  permitted  a  part  of  the  Regiment  to  em 
bark  with  the  fleet ;  but,  justly  weighing  the  vast  im 
portance  of  the  safety  of  that  Harbour,  peremptorily 
ordered  Macomb  to  remain  with  the  residue  of  the 
troops,  for  its  protection ;  and,  especially  to  concert 
and  execute,  in  conjunction  with  Commodore  Chauncey, 
the  necessary  measures  for  the  security  of  the  naval 
stores  and  of  the  shipping  then  building,  which  were 
essential  to  give  the  American  fleet  the  ascendancy  on 
the  Lakes. 

In  submitting  to  a  separation,  in  this  instance,  from 
a  part  of  his  Regiment,  Macomb  acted  on  those  pure 
exalted  principles,  which  lose  sight  of  all  personal  con 
siderations,  in  unbounded  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
the  service  and  of  the  country  ;  like  Washington, 
whose  love  of  glory  was  always  subordinate  to  his  sense 
of  duty  and  of  patriotism.  Indeed  Macomb's  avowed 


58  MEMOIR    OF 

maxim  has  always  been,  that  the  first  duty  of  a  soldier, 
next  to  his  obligations  to  his  country,  is  obedience  to 
orders.  Macomb  now  employed  himself  in  strengthen 
ing  the  defences,  and  obstructing  every  avenue  of  ap 
proach.  On  his  own  responsibility,  he  stopped  the 
troops  ordered  for  the  Niagara  frontier,  and  directed 
them  to  march  to  the  Harbour.  Having  executed  every 
practicable  measure,  for  the  security  of  the  place,  he  put 
Colonel  Backus  of  the  Light  Dragoons  in  the  command, 
and  gave  him  a  letter  from  General  Dearborn  calling 
out  the  Militia  of  the  vicinity,  to  be  presented  to  Gene 
ral  Brown  then  commanding  the  Militia,  in  case  the 
enemy  should  appear  on  the  Lake  in  a  threatening 
attitude  toward  that  point.  He  also  left  with  Colonel 
Backus  a  plan  of  the  Harbour,  with  his  own  opinion 
of  the  best  mode  of  stationing  the  troops  in  case  of  at 
tack,  indicating  on  the  map  the  only  points  assailable. 

Macomb  having  satisfied  that  excellent  officer  Com 
modore  Chauncey,  that  every  thing  was  done  which 
lay  in  his  power,  and  that,  if  his  directions  were  follow 
ed,  the  Harbour  in  all  human  probability  would  be  safe 
until  the  fleet  could  return,  they  embarked  together, 
and  joined  the  army  and  fleet  at  the  Four  Mile  Creek, 
a  short  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  on  the 
American  side.  Their  arrival  was  on  the  1 1th  of  May, 
when  every  preparation  for  the  attack  was  already 


MACOMB.  59 

made,  waiting  only  for  Commodore  Chauncey.  Gene 
ral  Dearborn,  regretting  the  anticipated  departure  of 
Macomb  from  Sackett's  Harbour,  had  despatched  a 
fast  sailing  Schooner  "  The  Lady  of  the  Lake,"  to 
meet  him,  and  direct  him  to  return,  the  General's  ap 
prehensions  for  the  safety  of  that  place  having  greatly 
increased.  The  Schooner,  however,  missed  Macomb  in 
the  night ;  and  he  reported  himself  the  next  morning 
to  the  General.  The  commands  having  been  all  as 
signed  to  the  General  and  other  principal  officers3  Ge 
neral  Dearborn  formed  a  sort  of  second  reserve  of  Ma- 
comb's  Regiment  and  the  Marines.  The  force  debark 
ed  in  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  May,  and,  after  a  brisk 
fire  with  the  enemy,  who  soon  gave  way,  gained  quiet 
possession  of  the  town  of  Niagara  and  Fort  George. 
The  resistance  to  our  arms  was  too  quickly  subdued, 
and  the  flight  too  precipitate,  to  allow  much  scope 
for  the  display  of  generalship.  The  enemy  having  been 
completely  routed  in  all  directions,  Colonel  Macomb  re 
ceived  orders  to  return  with  four  companies  of  his  Regi 
ment,  with  all  despatch,  to  Sackett's  Harbour.  Com 
modore  Chauncey  received  the  Colonel  and  his  troops 
on  board  his  fleet  and  returned  ;  but,  on  his  way,  sailed 
over  toward  Kingston,  to  ascertain  whether  the  enemy 
was  in  port — if  so,  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of  co 
ming  out  for  an  engagement ;  and  if  not,  to  meet  him  on 


60  MEMOIR  OF 

the  Lake.  He  found  the  enemy  snugly  moored  under 
the  batteries  of  Kingston,  who  manifested  no  desire  to 
change  his  position.  Chauncey,  then,  steered  for  our 
Harbour,  on  approaching  which  it  was  evident  that  the 
enemy  had  visited  it.  The  magazine  of  stores,  fired 
by  our  own  officers  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  ene 
my's  hands,  was  still  smoking.  But  the  precautions 
taken,  and  the  instructions  given,  by  Colonel  Macomb, 
prior  to  his  departure  for  Fort  George,  had  produced 
their  desired  effect,  and  the  enemy  was  defeated. 
Colonel  Macomb  relieved  General  Brown,  then  Bri 
gadier  General  of  the  Militia.  Colonel  Backus  he 
found  in  his  quarters,  who  was  suffering  from  a  wound 
in  the  action,  and  died  a  few  days  after.  To  this 
affair,  General  Brown  owed  his  first  appointment  in 
the  Army,  the  President  conferring  on  him  the  rank 
of  Brigadier  General  in  the  regular  service.  This  ap 
pointment  at  the  time  excited  much  dissatisfaction.  It 
was  considered,  by  some,  as  a  flagrant  violation  of  the 
rights  of  the  regular  officers,  and  more  particularly  of 
Macomb  himself.  A  cabal  was  getting  up,  by  tho?e 
who  had  erroneously  imbibed  unfavorable  impressions 
arainst  Brown,  from  the  slanders  which  the  opponents 
of  the  Administration  had  heaped  upon  him.  But 
Macomb  used  every  exertion  to  allay  the  ferment.  He 
always  exhibited  the  greatest  respect  for  General  Brown. 


MACOMB, 


61 


and  hoped,  by  the  influence  of  his  personal  example, 
to  re-establish  that  harmony,  without  which  the  Army 
can  be  neither  useful  to  the  State,  nor  honourable  to 
itself.  He  represented,  and  strongly  impressed  upon 
the  officers,  the  rights  of  the  Government,  and  their 
duty  of  obedience.  General  Brown's  subsequent  valu 
able  services,  his  sound  common  sense,  his  undaunted 
firmness  and  energy,  and  the  many  good  qualities  of 
his  character,  as  well  as  his  former  political  standing 
and  popular  influence,  sufficiently  indicate  the  proprie 
ty  of  his  appointment. 

In  the  summer  of  1813,  General  Wilkinson  took 
command  of  the  Northern  Army,  and  arrangements 
were  made  for  the  invasion  of  Canada.     Macomb  was 
first  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Artillery,  amount 
ing  to  45  pieces  of  all  calibers  and  descriptions.     This 
quantity  of  ordnance  he  conceived  to  be  unnecessarily 
great,  and  too  ponderous  for  the  expedition  on  foot. 
He,  therefore,  recommended  to  General  Wilkinson  to 
reduce  it  to  two  18  pounders,  four  8  inch  howitzers,  and 
four  6  pounders,  as  the  country  in  which  the  Army 
was  to  operate  would  not  admit  of,  nor  the  occasion  re 
quire,  a  larger  complement  of  field  artillery — there  being 
nothing  to  be  besieged,  except  some  field-works,  block 
houses,  and  perhaps  strong  stone-buildings.     As  this 
opinion  was  in  direct  opposition  to  Wilkinson's,  he  pro- 

6 


62  MEMOIR   OF 

posed  to  Macomb  to  take  command  of  the  Elite,  com 
posed  of  his  own  Regiment,  the  20th  Regiment,  For- 
eyth's  Riflemen,  and  Major  Herkimer's  New- York  Vo 
lunteers,  amounting  in  all  to  about  1600  men.  This 
command  was,  in  the  order  of  battle,  called  the  Reserve; 
and  was  to  be  disposed  of  under  the  special  orders  of 
the  Commander  in  Chief.  The  proposition  was  readily 
accepted  by  Macomb,  as  he  foresaw  that  there  would  be 
little  use  for  Artillery  in  the  contemplated  expedition. 
The  Artillery  was  then  transferred  to  Brevet  Brigadier 
General  Porter,  who  had  just  arrived  from  the  Niagara 
frontier.  The  batteaux  being  provided  and  distributed, 
and  every  practicable  preparation  made  for  the  cam 
paign,  the  whole  army  was  ordered  to  rendezvous  at 
Grenadier  Island,  near  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  nearly  opposite  Kingston.  To  this  place  the 
Division,  which  had  been  serving  on  the  Niagara,  re 
paired,  under  Brig.  Gen.  Boyd.  Brig.  Gen.  Brown, 
also,  availing  himself  of  a  good  wind,  arrived  thither 
from  Sackett's  Harbour.  The  Reserve  and  the  Artil 
lery  were  kept  back  by  the  want  of  necessary  trans 
ports.  Violent  storms,  so  peculiarly  dangerous  on  the 
Lakes,  prevailed  at  this  time,  it  being  about  the  middle 
of  October  ;  but  General  Wilkinson,  impatient  of  delay, 
directed  the  boats  to  set  out,  and  try  the  Lake  at  all 
hazards.  The  boats,  crammed  with  men,  provisions, 


MACOMB.  63 

artillery,  and  munitions,  were  difficult  of  management ; 
and  the  wind  rising  into  a  tempest  on  that  turbulent 
sea,  endangered  the  whole  flotilla,  rendering  the  navi 
gation  of  it  impracticable.  Macomb.  with  his  Corps, 
succeeded  in  reaching  Chaumont  Bay,  while  the  greater 
part  of  the  boats  was  dispersed,  some  luckily  escaping 
to  the  shore,  some  filled  with  the  billows,  and  others 
dashed  upon  the  rocks.  On  the  subsiding  of  the  storm, 
the  boats  were  repaired,  and  pursued  their  destination. 
One  of  the  boats,  with  an  officer  and  thirty  men,  was 
driven  into  Kingston  :  which  circumstance  apprized  the 
enemy  of  the  movement  of  the  army,  and  prompted 
him  to  send  out  his  gun-brigs  to  watch  our  further 
progress. 

The  force  collected  on  Grenadier  Island  amounted  to 
something  like  8000  men.  On  the  1st  of  November 
the  army  proceeded  in  their  beatteaux  to  French  Creek, 
where  an  order  was  issued,  assigning  the  relative  posi 
tions  to  be  observed,  in  sailing,  by  the  several  Corps  and 
Brigades,  and  by  the  store-vessels.  The  enemy  ap 
peared  from  behind  the  Islands,  with  two  gun-brigs, 
two  schooners  and  ten  gun-boats ;  and  opened  a  fire 
on  the  camp,  doing  some  execution,  but  was  soon  re 
pelled  with  loss  by  our  cannon.  The  American  fleet 
heaving  in  sight,  the  hostile  flotilla  effected  its  escape 
among  the  numerous  islands.  The  climate  now  wore 


64  MEMOIR    OF 

its  serenest  aspect.  The  surrounding  scenery,  under  our 
autumnal  sky  so  justly  praised  for  its  unrivalled  beau 
ties,  was  clothed  with  robes  of  mellow  richness  which  pre 
sented  a  thousand  vivid  and  ever  varying  hues,  and  in 
vested  the  objects  of  the  landscape,  sky,  water  and  foliage 
and  the  clustered  islands,  in  prismatic  splendour.  The 
troops  re-embarked  in  the  various  boats  and  barges, 
each  bearing  a  flag  to  designate  the  particular  Brigade, 
Corps,  or  department,  to  which  it  belonged — the  Gene 
ral  in  Chief  carrying  the  American  ensign  at  his  mast 
head — the  others,  red,  blue,  white,  green,  yellow,  or 
black  badges  and  banners,  according  to  order.  Three 
hundred  boats  of  different  sizes,  accompanied  by  the 
fleet  under  Chauncey,  combining  the  pegeantry  of  war 
with  the  safety  of  peace,  quietly  floating  along,  like 
gondolas  of  a  gala  day,  on  the  beautiful  bosom  of  the 
majestic  St.  Lawrence,  afforded  a  spectacle  entirely 
novel,  enrapturing,  and  grand. 

The  fleet  returned  in  search  of  the  enemy.  The 
troops  were  disembarked  near  Ogdensburgh,  and  placed 
under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Macomb,  who  was  to 
lead  them  through  that  town  in  the  evening,  so  as  not 
to  attract  the  notice  of  the  enemy,  who  had  a  strong 
battery  at  Fort  Wellington,  opposite  Ogdensburgh. 
The  boats,  also,  were  ordered  to  descend  the  river  in  the 
night,  having  only  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  row 


MACOMB.  65 

them,  with  muffled  oars.  As  the  head  of  the  column 
on  its  march  rose  the  bank  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Oswegatche,  their  bright  arms,  glittering  in  the  moon 
light,  disclosed  them  to  the  enemy.  The  battery  of 
Fort  Wellington  opened  on  the  column  ;  but  the  shower 
of  shot  and  shell,  being  too  elevated,  passed  over  harm 
less  and  unheeded.  The  boats  were  less  fortunate, 
suffering  some,  though  slight  damage.  Fort  Welling 
ton  being  passed,  the  Commanding  General  directed 
Colonel  Macomb  to  cross  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  clear 
the  Canadian  bank  of  batteries  or  troops,  which  might 
obstruct  the  passage  of  the  army  down  the  river.  About 
this  time,  Colonel  Winfield  Scott,  of  the  2d  Regiment 
of  Artillery,  arrived  at  Macomb's  position,  and,  stating 
that  he  was  without  a  command,  asked  him  for  a  place 
in  his  Corps  d'elite.  Macomb,  always  the  friend  of  the 
chivairic  Scott,  offered  him  the  command  of  the  parti 
cular  battalion  of  his  own  Regiment,  which  he  had  re 
served  for  himself.  Scott,  with  his  usual  alacrity  when 
ever  honour  was  to  be  courted,  and  whereever  danger 
awaited  him,  readily  accepted,  and  joined  in  the  expedi 
tion.  Macomb  crossed  with  his  Corps  into  Canada,  re 
moved  the  obstacles  in  his  progress,  and  took  possession 
of  a  small  work  called  Fort  Matilda. 

The  whole  army  now  followed  and  pursued  its  march 
on  the  enemy's  territory.    The  Elite  was  ordered  to  be- 


66  MEMOIR    Of 

come  the  advance.  Brown's  Brigade  joining  with  it, 
it,  marched  down  to  Cornwall.  On  the  way  a  consi 
derable  body  of  militia,  under  a  regular  Colonel,  at  a 
place  called  Hoop-pole  Creek,  occupied  a  Block  House 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Creek,  and  a  hill  on  the  oppo 
site  side.  On  the  approach  to  this  place,  they  fired  a 
few  shot,  and  fled.  They  then  opened  a  fire  from  the 
thickets ;  but,  as  soon  as  our  artillery  began  to  play, 
they  fled  again.  The  advance  marched  on  till  dark, 
when  they  encamped  at  Barnhart's,  near  Cornwall. 
The  next  day  brought  about  the  battle  of  Chrislers 
Field. 

It  was  a  politic  movement  on  the  part  of  the  British, 
when  they  found  our  Army  pushing  its  progress  down 
the  St.  Lawrence,  in  order  to  make  a  descent  on  Mon 
treal,  to  detach  parties  to  hang  upon  our  rear  and  har- 
rass  our  flanks.  The  delay  on  our  part,  occasioned 
by  useless  halts  and  complicated  arrangements  as  to 
the  order  of  march,  enabled  the  British  to  collect  their 
troops  from  Kingston  and  other  points  along  the  river, 
and  to  press  upon  our  movements.  They  watched 
their  opportunity  to  fall  upon  our  rear,  in  the  hope,  pro 
bably,  of  causing  the  army  to  retrograde,  if  not  to  bring 
on  a  general  action — thus  to  gain  time  to  strengthen 
the  defences  of  Montreal,  and  to  concentrate  at  that 
post  from  below  all  their  disposable  troops  for  the  pur- 


MACOMB. 


67 


j>ose  of  meeting  our  attack.  With  this  view.  Captain 
Mulcaster  of  the  British  Navy,  with  nine  or  ten  gun 
boats,  carrying  heavy  pieces  of  ordnance,  had  been  sent 
in  pursuit ;  and  Colonel  Morrison  of  their  Army,  with 
the  land  forces  at  his  command,  was  intrusted  with  the 
conduct  of  the  expedition,  Our  Army  unfortunately 
halted  to  oppose  him — first  by  small  detachments — 
then  by  a  considerable  portion  of  the  whole  force — un 
til  the  main  body  became  retarded,  and,  in  some  degree, 
engaged  in  the  conflict.  The  opposing  parties  were 
about  equal  in  number.  The  British,  however,  had 
the  advantage  of  position :  and  were  attacked  under 
circumstances  most  unpropitious  to  us.  Their  line  ex 
tended  from  the  river  to  the  woods — their  right  resting 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  covered  by  the  gun-boats  under 
Captain  Mulcaster — their  left  extending  to  the  woods, 
protected  by  numerous  bands  of  Savages  and  Militia — 
and  their  front  fortified  by  a  strong  log  fence,  behind 
which  they  formed  for  action.  Our  troops  attacked 
them  bravely,  but  unskilfully.  Avoiding  their  fortified 
front,  our  whole  force  should  have  been  brought  to  bear 
upon  their  left  flank,  which  being  turned,  their  gun 
boats  would  have  been  rendered  inoperative — we  should 
have  obtained  possession  of  the  woods — and  they,  in 
the  open  field,  would  have  been  exposed  to  our  fire,  the 
distance  between  the  woods  and  river  being  within 


68  MEMOIR  OF 

the  range  of  musketry.  After  a  hard-fought  action,  in 
which  gallant  feats  were  performed  on  either  side,  the 
firing  was  mutually  suspended.  Here  our  impetuous 
General  Boyd,  of  romantic  enthusiasm  and  patriotic 
fire,  displayed  his  wonted  spirit  of  audacious  ambition 
which  laughed  at  obstacles,  and  coveted  perils  as  a 
pastime  ;  and  here  the  estimable  Covington  breathed 
out  his  last.  Colonel  Macomb,  being  in  the  advance, 
could  not  participate  in  this  affair ;  but  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  Covington's  Brigade.  The  Americans 
at  night  slept  on  the  battle-ground  ;  and  the  next  day 
continued  their  march.  The  British  gave  up  the  pur 
suit.  The  season  being  considered  too  far  advanced 
for  the  troops  to  remain  longer  in  the  field,  they  re- 
crossed  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  went  into  winter  quarters 
at  French  Mills  on  the  Salmon  River,  the  13th  Novem 
ber,  1813. 

Thus  terminated  this  campaign,  which,  however 
well  matured,  was,  from  defective  execution,  so  disas 
trous  and  discreditable  in  its  results.  It  is  not  the  part 
of  this  memoir  to  discuss  its  merits  ;  but  it  is  an  act  of 
justice  to  history  and  to  Wilkinson  to  state,  that  a  mis 
understanding  existed  between  him  and  General  Hamp 
ton — the  former  charging  the  latter  with  disobedience 
of  orders  and  consequent  responsibility  for  the  failure  of 
the  enterprise. 


MACOMB,  69 

In  the  preceding  September,  General  John  Arm 
strong,  the  Secretary  of  War,  had  come  on  to  Sackett's 
Harbour,  personally  to  inspect,  personally  to  direct,  the 
department  of  war  in  that  sphere  of  its  then  most  vital 
operations.  He  conceived  and  delineated  the  campaign 
of  1813,  which,  if  executed  with  the  ability  with  which 
it  was  planned,  would  probably  have  placed  its  origi 
nator  in  the  executive  chair  of  these  States.  In  the 
general  conduct  of  the  department  and,  especially,  of 
the  Army,  he  created  a  new  spirit.  He  increased  the 
efficiency  of  the  latter,  by  throwing  aside  its  cumber 
some  lumber  of  ignorance,  stupidity,  and  dissipation. 
Though  himself  of  undaunted  valour,  and  capable  of 
skilful  and  profound  combinations,  yet  he  had  to  depend 
on  imperfect  instrumentality  ;  and,  from  want  of  expe 
rieuce,  was  greater  in  the  theory  than  in  the  practice  of 
war.  His  pen,  perhaps,  is  his  forte.  This  alone  is 
terrible,  "  as  an  army  with  banners."  The  pen  is  the 
author's  sword — and  his  is  a  Damascus  blade,  of  finest 
temper,  with  ground  edge,  and  polished  point.  His  is 
not  the  Ciceronian  flow,  but  the  Demosthenian  force — 
not  the  effulgence  of  Burke  nor  the  majesty  of  Johnson, 
but  the  raciness  and  poignancy  of  Junius  and  Juvenal. 

The  ensuing  December,  General  Wilkinson  des 
patched  Colonel  Macomb  from  Milone  with  a  flag  of 
truce  to  the  Head  Quarters  of  Sir  George  Provost,  bear- 


70  MEMOIR    OF 

ing  a  communication  relative  to  hostages.  He  was  not 
permitted  to  proceed  further  than  Chateaugay,  where 
he  was  conducted  to  the  Quarters  of  General  De  Wal- 
tenville  ;  and,  after  the  despatch  was  read  by  Sir  George, 
he  was  reconducted  out  of  the  country  by  the  way  of 
St.  John's  and  St.  Armand's,  and  thence  was  obliged 
to  go  by  Burlington  before  he  could  return  to  Melone. 
This  route  was  prescribed,  no  doubt,  with  a  view  to 
prevent  Macomb  from  acquiring  any  intelligence  of  the 
country,  and  to  gain  time,  that  winter  might  set  in,  be 
fore  Wilkinson  could  have  another  chance  to  operate 
against  Sir  George. 

Macomb  resumed  the  command  of  the  Artillery,  and 
continued  in  it  until  the  24th  of  January,  1814,  when 
he  w^is  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General,  and 
assigned  to  the  Brigade  of  the  late  Covington,  com 
posed  of  the  9th  Regiment  under  Aspinwall,  of  the  16th 
under  Pierce,  and  the  25th  under  Gaines.  The  cam 
paign  having  closed  in  a  manner  so  unsatisfactory  to  the 
Government  and  Nation,  orders  were  given  by  the  War 
Department  to  break  up  the  quarters  at  French  Mills, 
and  for  the  Army  to  retire  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  Platts- 
burgh,  and  Burlington,  where  barracks  had  been  pro 
vided.  Wilkinson  removed  his  head  quarters  to  Platts- 
burgh.  Brigadier  General  Macomb  conducted  the 
troops  destined  to  that  place,  and  Major  General  Brown 


MACOMB.  7  i 

the  other  division  to  Sackett's  Harbour.  Macomb  was 
then  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  troops  on  the  East 
side  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  took  up  his  quarters  at 
Burlington.  To  guard  against  the  smuggling  carried 
on  along  the  lines,  Macomb  was  ordered  to  detach 
Colonel  Isaac  Clarke  with  his  Regiment :  He  was 
afterward  instructed  to  proceed  with  his  command  and 
take  possession  of  the  town  of  St.  Armand.  As  there 
was  no  force  in  that  quarter,  except  the  local  militia, 
the  place  made  no  resistance.  Macomb  now  received 
orders  to  join  Wilkinson  at  Champlain,  a  village  on  the 
frontiers  of  New- York.  He  forthwith  marched  his 
Brigade,  with  four  pieces  of  Artillery,  to  that  place. 
The  season  being  far  advanced,  "Wilkinson  designed, 
as  soon  as  he  had  collected  the  troops  from  Plattsburgh, 
to  attack  La  Cole  Mills,  a  fortified  position  on  the  St. 
John's,  and  also  carry  the  outposts  in  its  vicinity,  in 
order  to  bring  on  a  general  action.  Having  received  an 
intimation  that  he  would  be  relieved  in  the  command 
of  the  Northern  Army  the  ensuing  spring,  Wilkinson 
was  desirous,  by  the  present  enterprise,  to  retrieve  his 
military  reputation,  to  cover  the  disappointment  of  the 
campaign  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  secure  the  popular 
favour  against  the  manifest  displeasure  of  the  War 
Department.  The  time,  unfortunately  selected,  was 
too  late  in  the  winter,  and  too  early  in  the  spring. 


72 


MEMOIR    OP 


Macomb  objected  to  the  plan  of  engaging  the  whole 
force,  amounting  to  about  4000  effective  soldiers,  in 
such  an  affair — the  opposing  garrison  consisting  pro 
bably  of  not  more  than  200  or  300  men  at  most ;  but 
he  recommended  that  one  Brigade  should  make  the 
attack  on  the  Fort,  or,  with  hot  shot,  set  fire  to  the 
roof  and  burn  out  the  garrison.  The  rest  of  the  force 
might  move  forward  to  render  any  assistance,  should  it 
be  found  necessary  ;  but  it  was  evident,  from  the  depth 
of  the  snow,  the  condition  of  the  roads,  and  the  im 
penetrable  character  of  the  surrounding  woods,  that  a 
large  force  could  not  operate  so  promptly,  nor  be  so 
well  directed,  as  a  smaller  body  of  men.  It  was,  how 
ever,  an  object  on  which  General  Wilkinson's  mind 
was  bent.  A  council  of  war  was  called ;  and,  after 
much  consultation,  they  reluctantly  yielded  to  his  de 
sires.  The  attack  was  made  on  the  30th  of  March, 
1814.  The  event  verified  Macomb's  prediction,  being 
completely  abortive.  In  this  affair,  Macomb  commanded 
the  Reserve.  The  conduct  of  our  troops  was  highly 
evincive  of  their  discipline  and  firmness  ;  and  the  Bri 
tish  Commander  also  signalized  himself  by  a  gallant 
defence  of  his  position. 

Our  troops  returned  to  their  old  quarters  at  Platts- 
burgh  and  Burlington,  leaving  a  piquet  at  Champlain. 
Wilkinson,  as  had  been  expected,  was  recalled,  and 


MACOMB.  73 

Macomb  was  ordered  to  assume  the  command,  until 
the  arrival  of  Major  General  Izard,  who  had  been 
nominated  as  the  successor  of  Wilkinson.  Brigadier 
General  Macomb  established  his  head  quarters  at 
Plattsburgh,  and  assiduously  employed  himself  in  put 
ting  the  troops  in  order  for  the  next  campaign.  On  his 
relieving  General  Wilkinson,  he  ordered  an  officer  of 
the  Engineers  to  proceed  to  Otter  Creek,  with  instruc 
tions  to  erect  a  battery  for  the  protection  of  the  avenue 
leading  to  the  dockyards,  where  M'Donough  was  pre 
paring  his  fleet.  General  Izard,  by  and  by,  arrived 
and  took  the  command,  when  Macomb  removed  his 
quarters  to  his  old  position  in  Burlington.  While  in 
the  chief  command  of  the  Army  on  this  station,  Ma 
comb  afforded  Commodore  M'Donough  every  assistance 
in  his  power,  ordered  a  Regiment  to  guard  his  sloops  at 
Virgennes,  and  furnished  him  men  enough  to  supply 
the  deficiencies  'in  his  crews,  who  were  to  act  either  as 
sailors  or  as  marines. 

The  British  flotilla  at  the  Isle  aux  Noix,  on  the  9th 
of  May,  entered  Lake  Cham  plain,  with  a  large  detach 
ment  of  marines,  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  or  de 
stroying  the  vessels  recently  launched  at  Vergennes,  or 
of  intercepting  the  stores  and  supplies  intended  for  their 
equipment  and  armament;  the  British  Commander 
knowing  that  M'Donough  was  then  in  no  condition  to 

7 


74  MEMOIR    OF 

oppose  him.  The  enemy  appeared  off  Plattsburgb, 
fired  on  the  piquet  at  Appletree  Point,  and  then  steered 
up  the  lake.  On  seeing  the  course  which  the  flotilla 
had  taken.  General  Macomb  ordered  the  Light  Artille 
ry  under  Captain  Thornton,  with  the  necessary  trans 
portation,  to  proceed  to  Otter  Creek,  in  order  to  man 
the  batteries  which  he  had  previously  caused  to  be  con 
structed  for  the  defence  of  our  naval  depot.  Captain 
Thornton  was  quickly  supplied  with  transports,  by  that 
active  Quarter  Master  Major  Staunton,  and  readied  his 
destination  at  one  o'clock  the  next  morning.  He  had 
just  time  to  make  his  arrangements  for  the  reception  of 
the  British  flotilla,  which,  at  dawn  of  day,  commenced  the 
attack  in  expectation  of  but  a  slender  resistance.  The 
flotilla,  consisting  of  one  brig  of  IS  guns  and  13  galleys 
carrying  16  heavy  guns,  found  themselves,  however, 
so  severely  handled,  that  they  judged  it  expedient  to 
abandon  the  enterprise,  and  return  to  the  Isle  aux  Noix. 
Thus,  by  his  coup  d'ccil,  vigilance,  and  foresight,  Ma- 
comb  anticipated  the  designs  of  the  enemy, 'and  effec 
tually  frustrated  a  well-concerted  plan  to  destroy  our 
incipient  Navy  on  Lake  Champlain — by  this  single 
act  making  himself  auxiliary  to  the  future  triumph  of 
the  Navy  on  our  Lakes,  and  entitling  himself  to  the 
nation's  lasting  gratitude. 

The  Governor  General  of  Canada  having  early  in 


MACOMB.  75 

the  summer  of  1814  reinforced  his  frontier  on  the  Nia 
gara  with  a  considerable  body  of  fresh  troops,  the  posi 
tion  of  General  Brown  became  exceedingly  critical. 
General  Izard,  who  had  now  collected  a  handsome 
force  on  the  Champlain  frontier,  could  not  brook  the 
idea  of  inactivity.  He  pointed  out  to  the  War  Depart 
ment  the  advantage  which  would  result  from,  and  so 
licited  the  privilege  of,  marching  his  best  troops  to  the 
relief  of  General  Brown  ;  leaving  the  residue  for  the 
protection  of  Plattsburgh.  The  orders  granted  on  the 
application  of  General  Izard,  he  did  not  receive  until 
late  in  August.  Meanwhile,  the  Champlain  frontier 
had  assumed  an  entirely  new  aspect.  The  highly  dis 
ciplined  and  veteran  troops  of  Wellington  from  France 
and  the  Peninsula  were  pouring  into  Canada,  and  con 
centrating  under  Sir  George  Provost  between  La  Prairie 
and  Chambly — Lieut.  Gen.  Baron  deRottenberg  having 
the  immediate  command  there.  Indeed  a  heavy  detach 
ment  under  Major  Gen.  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane  had  alrea 
dy  advanced  nearly  as  far  as  Odletown,  within  8  or  10 
miles  of  Tzard's  Head  Quarters.  Izard's  command 
at  this  time,  consisted  of  Macomb's,  Smith's,  and  Bis- 
sel's  Brigades,  amounting  in  all  to  about  5000  effective 
soldiers.  Notwithstanding  this  change  in  the  relative 
position  of  the  frontiers,  Izard  felt  himself  invested 
with  no  discretionary  authority  to  rescind  or  modify 


76  MEMOIR    OF 

the  orders  under  which  he  was  called  to  act.  On 
the  27th  of  August,  therefore,  he  marched  for  Niagara, 
leaving  Macomb  in  command  of  about  2500  men,  the 
remnants  of  a  variety  of  regiments  scattered  in  different 
directions,  of  which  only  about  eighteen  hundred  were 
fit  for  duty.  Although  it  was  currently  believed  that 
the  force  collected  by  Sir  George  between  La  Prairie 
and  Chambly  was  large,  yet  none,  at  first,  formed  an 
adequate  conception  of  its  extent.  It  was  afterward 
ascertained  that  the  troops  which  arrived  from  the  Ga 
ronne  amounted  to  16,000  picked  soldiers,  commanded 
by  some  of  the  most  approved  Generals,  in  the  British 
service.  Of  this  number,  2000  were  detached  for  the 
Niagara  under  General  Kempt,  and  were  replaced  by 
the  Voltigeurs  and  other  Canadian  Corps. 

Learning  that  Izard  had  marched  with  so  large  a 
portion  of  his  troops  to  reinforce  the  army  at  Fort  Erie, 
Sir  George,  in  order  to  check  that  movement,  put  his 
own  army  in  motion,  and  crossed  the  lines  at  Odletown 
on  the  1st  of  September.  Here  Macomb,  left  as  it  were 
alone,  with  only  a  handful  of  men,  was  put  to  the  ut 
most  stretch  of  his  ability  how  to  meet  the  occasion. 
It  was  one  of  those  turning  points  in  the  character  and 
fortune  of  individual  history,  when  the  weak  sink,  bu 
ried  beneath  the  pressing  magnitude  of  the  emergency ; 
but  where  the  great  more  greatly  rise,  repercussive  vi- 


MACOMB.  77 

gour,  educing  resources  from  barren  fortune,  and  vindi 
cating  the  supremacy  of  genius  by  the  title  of  nature's 
law.  With  such  feeble  means  against  overwhelming 
power  ;  with,  in  a  great  degree,  the  destiny  of  his  coun 
try  in  his  hand  ;  he  stood,  like  Leonidas  at  the  Defile,  in. 
a  crisis  of  the  most  fearful  responsibilities,  from  which 
ordinary  men  would  instinctively  have  shrunk,  but 
which  the  glorious  covet.  How  he  acquitted  himself 
of  this  momentous  trust,  the  event  has  demonstrated  to 
the  admiration  of  his  own  country,  of  the  world,  and  of 
posterity. 

The  troops  actually  on  the  Champlain  frontier,  on 
the  1st  of  September,  consisted  only  of  one  hundred  and 
ten  Riflemen.  The  6th  and  29th  Regiments^ amount 
ing  to  about  750  men,  Macomb  had  previously  ordered 
to  Plattsburgh,  whither  he  determined  to  converge  his 
whole  command,  as  the  point,  in  his  judgment,  best 
adapted  for  the  repulsion  of  the  enemy,  for  the  defence 
of  the  large  military  stores  on  that  station,  and  the  in 
cidental  protection  of  our  fleet.  There  had  been  com 
menced,  under  the  direction  of  that  laborious  and  scien 
tific  officer  Major  Totten  of  the  Engineers,  three  Re 
doubts  011  the  South  side  of  the  Saranac,  a  small  river 
that  runs  through  the  town  and  discharges  itself  into 
Lake  Champlain.  In  its  winding  course  through  the 
town,  it  forms  a  peninsula  of  the  tongue  of  land  which 


78  MEMOIR    OF 

lies  between  it  and  the  Lake,  the  gorge  or  neck  of  the 
peninsula  being  about  400  yards  across.     It  was  on 
the  gorge  that  the  fortifications  were  being  erected,  con 
sisting  of  three  detached  works  so  disposed  as  to  flank 
and  defend  each  other  on  any  assailable  side.     Two  of 
the  works,  one  resting  on  the  Saranac,  the  other  on 
the  Lake,  were   deemed  inaccessible  on  their   water 
fronts,  from  the  height  and  precipitancy  of  the  banks. 
On  all  other  sides  these  works  were  surrounded  by  wide 
and  deep  ditches,  defended  by  caponnieres ;  and  the 
glacis  were  covered  with  multiplied  rows  of  abatis  con 
structed  of  trees  well  secured  in  the  ground,  the  branch 
es  sharpened  so  as  to  stand  out  like  so  many  bayonets. 
There  were,  besides,  two  block- houses  mounted  with 
cannon,  and  advantageously  posted  to  guard  the  river 
and  the  ravines  on  the  north  side  leading  to  the  redoubts. 
The  troops,  with  all  despatch,  were  organized  both  for 
the    completion   and   defence  of  the  several    works. 
Working  parties  were  detailed,  with  orders  to  execute 
the  instructions  of  the  Engineers.     The  principal  fort 
had  been  called  by  General  Izard,  Fort  Moreau  ;  and 
Macomb,   in  compliment  to  our  gallant  countrymen 
Brown  and  Scott,  both  of  whom  had  just  distinguished 
themselves  on  the  Niagara,  named  that  on  the  Saranac 
Fort  Brown,  and  that  on  the  Lake  Fort  Scott.     He 
afterward  erected  another  redoubt,  more  in  advance,  on 


MACOMB.  79 

the  south  side,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Fort  Gaines^ 
after  another  of  our  distinguished  Generals.  Having 
assigned  the  artillery  to  the  batteries  in  the  several  re 
doubts,  he  formed,  out  of  the  residue  of  his  force,  four 
small  corps  of  observation,  placing  250  men  under 
Major  Wool  of  the  29th,  200  under  Major  Sproul  of 
the  13th,  100  armed  with  rifles  under  Captain  Grosve- 
nor  of  the  26th,  and  110  riflemen  under  Lieut.  Col. 
Appling.  Appling's  command  was  posted  on  the  Great 
Chazy  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  give 
information.  Beside  these,  there  were  a  number  of 
young  men  of  Plattsburgh  who  organized  themselves 
into  a  little  company  of  about  30,  under  Aikin  and 
Plagg,  the  latter  of  whom  is  now  Secretary  of  State 
for  the  State  of  New- York,  and  is  worthy  of  his  pro 
motion  ;  and  also  a  detachment  of  12  dragoons,  who 
occasionally  served  as  videts,  and  escorted  the  General  in 
his  recognoisances.  The  light  troops  were  now  sent 
out  on  the  various  avenues  of  approach,  to  watch  the 
motions  of  the  enemy,  to  dispute  the  passes,  obstruct 
the  roads,  destroy  the  bridges,  and  abatis  the  woods  by 
felling  the  trees. 

The  next  measure  was  an  appeal  to  the  Militia. 
Not  being  officially  authorized  to  call  for  drafts,  Macomb 
addressed  himself,  by  public  appeals,  to  the  patriotism 
and  valour  of  the  citizens  of  New- York  and  Vermont, 


80 


MEMOIR    OP 


particularly  of  the  Governors  of  those  States,  and  the 
Generals  of  Militia  in  his  immediate  neighbourhood. 
His  call  was  promptly  responded  to.     General  Moores, 
commanding  the  Militia  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
State  of  New- York,  displayed  much  zeal  on  the  occa 
sion.    Experienced  as  a  regular  officer  of  the  Revolution, 
and  popular  from  his  personal  merits,  his  counsel  and 
influence   were  highly  appreciated  hy  Macomb.     He 
now  held  a  consultation  with  the  Commander  of  our 
Squadron  on  the  Lake,  and  concerted  with  him,  in 
perfect  unison  of  feeling  and  action,  a  plan  of  mutual 
co-operation,  as  far  as  was  practicable.     A  reciprocal 
esteem  and  confidence,  instead  of  an  envious  rivakhip 
and  professional  jealousy,  between  our  land  and  naval 
Commanders,  in  this  national  exigency,  fortunately  for 
the  honour  of  our  arms,  fortunately  for  the  safety  of  our 
country,  uniformly  prevailed.     Out  of  his  very  limited 
force,  though  to  his  own  most  imminent  hazard,  Ma- 
comb  supplied   M'Donough   with   310   men,  without 
which  it  would  have  been  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for 
M'Donough  to  manoeuvre  his  Squadron,  or  keep  the 
Lake.     With  Macomb  the  paramount  motive  is  always 
his  public  duty.     On  all  his  actions  he  legibly  inscribes 
his   motto,   "  My  Country."     In  his  eye,  the  success, 
alike  of  the  army  or  the  fleet,  was  the  triumph  of  a 
common  cause.     How  few  Commanders,  in  similar 


MACOMB.  81 

circumstances,  could  have  exhibited  the  same  signal 
example  of  disinterestedness — the  same  spirit  of  heroic 
self-sacrifice — of  a  patriotism  superior  even  to  the  love  of 
glory — preferring  the  consciousness  of  the  highest  virtue 
before  the  statue  and  the  column  which  embody  the 
conqueror's  fame  ! 

While  the  British  lay  at  Odletown,  trusting  in  the 
superiority  of  their  numbers,  they  permitted  their  camp 
to  be  open  to  any  American  citizen  who  chose  to  enter 
it ;  yet  it  was  difficult  to  ascertain  their  real  strength. 
By  some  it  was  estimated  at  10,000;  by  others  at 
20.000  ;  and  by  others  again  as  high  as  25,000.  By 
actual  returns,  which  afterward  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  American  Commander,  it  is  known  that  the  force, 
with  which  they  marched  upon  Plattsburgh,  amounted 
to  14,000  effective  regular  soldiers,  besides  2000  who 
were  left  as  a  reserve,  to  keep  up  the  communication 
with  Canada,  and  to  prevent  any  American  force  from 
crossing  over  from  Vermont  to  assail  them  in  their  rear. 
Such  was  their  confidence  of  victory,  that  a  body  of 
merchants  accompanied  the  expedition,  with  a  view  of 
disposing  of  their  goods  in  the  conquered  parts  of  the 
United  States.  The  news  of  the  capture  of  our  na 
tional  Capital,  about  this  time,  was  received  at  Platts 
burgh.  Macomb  knowing  that  it  would  soon  reach  the 
British  Camp,  seized  the  opportunity  of  sending  to 


82  MEMOIR    OF 

Major  General  Sir  Thomas  Brisbane,  commanding  the 
British  advance,  an  intelligent  officer,  bearing  a  flag, 
with  his  compliments  and  the  newspapers  of  the  day, 
together  with  an  extra  containing  an  account  of  the 
capture.  By  this  means  he  expected  not  only  to  learn, 
with  more  accuracy,  the  position  and  strength  of  the 
enemy  ;  but  also  to  convince  them,  that  he  viewed  the 
affair  of  Washington,  as  a  mere  ordinary  occurrence  of 
war,  and  not  as  a  disheartening  augury  of  further  defeat. 
Frequent  importunities  from  highly  respectable  sources 
were  addressed  to  Macomb,  urging  him  to  retire,  and 
thereby  save  his  small  band,  the  town  of  Plattsburgh, 
and  the  public  stores  which  could  be  easily  and  safely 
sent  up  the  Lake.  They  represented  that  the  country 
in  his  rear  was  open,  and  that,  in  such  circumstances, 
before  such  fearful  odds,  not  only  would  a  retreat  be  not 
dishonourable ;  but  to  remain  would  be  a  wanton  sacri 
fice  of  lives  and  property.  These  importunities  he  had 
to  silence,  while  the  real  difficulties  of  the  occasion 
were  sufficiently  girding.  Suppose  he  had  yielded  to 
those  repeated  and  powerful  solicitations,  as,  in  a  military 
point  of  view,  he  would  have  been  justified,  and  was, 
perhaps,  even  required  to  do  !  Suppose,  in  consequence, 
Sir  George  had  triumphantly  entered  our  country  ! 
Suppose  the  news  of  his  progress  had  annulled  the 
negociations  at  Ghent,  and  continued  the  country  in 


MACOMB.  83 

war,  with  an  exhausted  treasury^  a  prostrate  credit^ 
and  disaffection  in  a  great  mass  of  the  people,  I 
What  the  consequences  ?  What  the  services  of  him 
who  averted  them  ?  But,  away,  away,  with  supposi 
tions  of  disaster !  The  decision,  which  Macomb  un 
hesitatingly  took,  and  unflinchingly  maintained,  in 
that  appalling  situation,  even  his  enemies,  if  he  have 
any,  must  acknowledge,  as  an  illustration,  than  which 
all  history  presents  not  a  brighter,  of  the  highest  subli 
mity  of  moral  courage. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  the  whole  British  army 
entered  the  town  of  Champlain.  The  small  detach 
ment  of  riflemen  under  Lieut.  Col.  Appling  still  re 
mained  on  the  Great  Chazy,  watching  the  movements 
of  Sir  George.  It  now  became  necessary  to  advance 
the  militia  and  light  corps  on  the  road  which  he  was 
taking.  They  were  directed  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
obstacles  which  had  been  by  previous  instructions,  or 
might  be,  by  their  own  exertions,  thrown  in  the  ene 
my's  way — the  broken  bridges,  fallen  trees,  and  passes 
of  chevaux  de  frise  and  abatis — and  to  dispute  the 
ground  inch  by  inch  :  for  every  hour's  delay  was  now 
of  consequence,  as  every  hour  gave  additional  strength 
to  the  yet  rising  parapets  and  unfinished  battlements. 
Whether  or  not  these  precautionary  obstructions  had 
their  desired  effect  of  impeding  the  progress  of  Sk 


84  MEMOIR    OP 

George,  or  to  whatever  cause  it  may  be  ascribed,  bis 
delay  was  alike  disastrous  to  the  British  arms,  and  glo 
rious  in  its  effects  to  the  American  cause. 

On  the  4th,  the  Governor  General  moved  forward 
upon  Plattsburgh.  Appling  with  his  riflemen  fell  back 
slowly,  pulling  down  the  bridges  on  his  retreat,  and  ob 
structing  the  pursuit  by  throwing  into  the  road  large 
trees  with  their  branches  pointing  to  the  enemy.  Sir 
George  halted  at  the  village  of  Little  Chazy,  and  con 
tinued  there  the  whole  of  the  5th.  It  was  ascertained, 
that,  the  next  day  at  dawn,  he  would  advance  in  two 
columns  on  the  two  roads,  dividing  at  Sampson's  a 
little  above  Chazy.  The  militia  of  New- York,  amount 
ing  to  about  700  men  under  General  Wright,  and  a 
detachment  of  regulars  of  280  men  under  Major  Wool, 
the  present  Inspector  General,  supported  by  two  pieces 
of  Light  Artillery,  were  pushed  forward  to  check  the 
right  column,  consisting  of  the  Divisions  of  Major  Ge 
nerals  Power  and  Robinson,  which  was  to  take  the 
Beekmantown  road  ;  and  were  instructed,  like  Appling, 
to  interpose  every  impediment  in  their  power.  Appling 
was  directed  to  retire  on  the  Lake  road,  as  better  suited 
to  his  arm,  being  more  difficult  than  the  other,  on  account 
of  the  lowness  of  the  grounds  and  the  thickness  of  the 
woods  :  besides,  on  this  road  a  detachment  of  200  men 
under  Major  Sproul  of  the  13th,  supported  also  by  two 


MACOMB.  85 

neld  pieces,  had  been  previously  stationed  at  the  bridge 
of  Dead  Creek,  which  force  was  to  co-operate  with 
Appling's  riflemen  in  defending  that  pass.     The  posi 
tion  at  this  Creek  was,  from  its  natural  advantages, 
strongly  defensible.     Aware  of  the  fact,  Major  General 
Sir   Thomas  Brisbane,  to  avoid  the  pass,  cut  a  road 
round  it  through  the  woods  on  the  west,  but  the  column 
on  the  Beekmantown  road  having  advanced  so  much 
more  rapidly  than  the  other,  it  was  found  necessary  to 
withdraw  the  force  at  the  Creek,  in  order  to  secure  its 
retreat.     It  so  happened,   however,  that  just  as  this 
party  had  retired  about  half  a  mile,  the  advance  of  the 
left  column  of  the  enemy  under  Colonel  Sir  William 
Williams  had  penetrated  through  the  woods,  and  meet 
ing  Appling,  the  latter  gave  them  a  sharp  fire  from  his 
riflemen,  and  retired  agreeably  to  his  instructions.  The 
detachments  sent  out  to  oppose  the  right  column  were 
also  obliged  to  retire,  but  not  without  having  made  a 
good  impression.     The  militia,  unaccustomed  to  regular 
discipline  and  service,  hurried  their  march  ;    but  the 
regulars  under  Wool  fell  back  in  good  order,  keeping 
up  a  fire  from  every  favourable  position,  until  they  met 
with  Appling  and  Sproul,  when  the  whole  retired,  by 
alternate  detachments,  until   they  were  forced  across, 
the  bridge  of  the  Saranac. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  Macomb  advanced 
8 


86 


MEMOIR  OF 


with  his  Staff,  on  the  Beekmantown  road,  to  direct  ope 
rations  on  that  route,  and  afterwards  took  his  post  at 
the  junction  of  the  roads  leading  into  Plattsburgh,  in 
order  the  better  to  conduct  the  movements  of  his  re 
tiring  corps.  The  gun-boats  on  the  Lake  were  sta 
tioned  at  the  flats,  so  as  to  take  the  enemy  in  flank,  as 
he  moved  along  the  Lake  shore  with  his  left  column  ; 
but  the  wind  rising,  and  the  enemy's  pieces  being  soon 
brought  to  bear  on  them,  they  were  constrained  to  re 
sume  their  place  in  line  of  battle  with  the  squadron  ; 
not,  however,  without  effecting  considerable  annoyance. 
The  American  troops  having  now  retired  behind  the 
Saranac,  the  planks  of  the  bridges  were  taken  up,  and 
so  disposed  as  to  shelter  the  detachments  posted  behind 
them.  The  enemy  entered  the  town  •  but,  finding 
themselves  too  much  exposed  to  the  field  pieces  and 
heavy  batteries,  withdrew  out  of  reach  of  our  guns, 
leaving  some  light  troops  to  skirmish  at  the  head  of 
the  bridges  and  fords,  while  their  Engineer  and  Staff 
officers  mounted  the  roofs  and  balconies  of  the  town, 
to  reconnoitre  our  position.  Being  there  discovered  by 
our  telescopes,  hot  shot  was  poured,  like  burning  lava, 
upon  the  buildings,  and  soon  dispossessed  these  gentle 
men  of  their  new  observatories.  It  was  an  object  of 
importance  to  keep  them  at  the  greatest  possible  dis 
tance  ;  and  our  troops,  being  fairly  driven  into  close 


MACOMB.  S7 

quarters,  were  driven  likewise  to  the  necessity  of  re 
doubling  their  efforts  to  strengthen  the  works,  which 
were  destined  to  be  the  last  resort.  Every  exertion  of 
the  mind  and  body  was  put  forth  to  amuse  and  de 
ceive  the  enemy.  The  whole  of  our  troops  were  pa 
raded  at  each  guard-mounting,  to  produce  an  impres 
sion  that  the  strength  of  the  garrison  was  much  greater 
than  it  really  was.  Every  night  some  portion  of  the 
barracks,  which  had  been  constructed  for  Izard's  army, 
was  burnt,  to  enable  any  approach  of  the  enemy's 
troops  to  be  discovered  on  the  glacis,  should  they,  by 
passing  through  the  woods  at  night,  escape  the  vigi 
lance  of  our  piquets  and  other  guards.  By  the  same 
means,  an  opportunity  was  afforded  of  marching  our 
troops  through  the  light,  giving  an  appearance  as  if  re 
inforcements  were  being  received  from  the  opposite  side 
of  the  Lake.  The  weather  for  the  most  part  was  rainy. 
One  third  of  our  troops,  notwithstanding,  lined  the  pa 
rapets  at  night,  while  the  rest  lay  on  their  arms  with 
out  covering.  The  enemy's  camp  described  a  segment 
of  a  circle,  with  a  radius  of  about  two  miles  from  our 
forts  ;  their  right  resting  on  the  Saranac ;  and  their  left 
on  the  Lake,  covered  by  a  battery  to  keep  off  our  gun 
boats.  From  the  6th  to  the  night  of  the  10th,  the 
enemy  were  industriously  engaged  in  planting  their 
open  and  masked  batteries,  in  preparing  scaling  ladders, 


MEMOIR  OF 

in  reconnoisances,  and  in  sallies.  In  one  of  their  abor 
tive  attempts  to  pass  the  upper  fords  above  the  town, 
when  about  half  of  a  formidable  detachment  had  cross 
ed  over,  and  were  forming  again  in  line  and  column, 
with  horse  and  foot,  our  light  corps,  regular  and  irregu 
lar,  dispersed  among  the  fronting  woods ;  and,  concealed 
behind  the  trees,  set  up  a  simultaneous  shout  and  thun 
dering  huzzas,  so  that  the  enemy  thought  himself,  as 
the  event  proved  he  was,  caught  in  a  ruse  de  guerre — 
became  panic-stricken — broke  into  confusion — and  re- 
crossed  the  ford  in  the  utmost  precipitancy — making 
fine  game  for  the  huntsmen  in  his  rear.  He  was  now 
said  to  be  waiting  only  the  arrival  of  his  fleet,  which 
was  expected  about  the  10th  or  llth. 

Prom  the  position  which  the  enemy  had  taken,  and 
from  his  line  of  contravallation,  there  presented  them 
selves  to  Macomb's  view  several  enterprises  which,  in 
his  opinion,  might  be  undertaken  without  imminent 
danger,  and  yet  with  eminent  advantage.  Among 
these  was  an  attack  which  he  had  projected  upon  the 
enemy's  Head  Quarters,  which  were  in  the  centre  of 
their  line — proposing  to  take,  in  the  way,  a  battery  then 
nearly  completed,  within  400  yards  of  Fort  Brown,  and 
in  a  direct  line  to  Sir  George.  For  this  purpose  he  had 
prepared  a  brigade  of  rocketeers,  with  Gongreve  rock 
ets,  which  the  enemy  believed  to  be  in  his  own  exclu 


MACOMB.  89 

sive  possession — and  two  hundred  light  troops  under 
Major  Sproul— to  sally,  in  the  dead  of  night,  in  a  direct 
line  to  the  point  of  attack — force  the  guards,  in  their 
Way — bring  on  an  action  by  pouring  a  fire  of  small 
arms  upon  the  centre — and  then  discharge  the  rocket 
battery  in  their  retreat.  By  this  manoeuvre,  it  was  ex 
pected  that  the  enemy  would  get  under  arms — his  se 
veral  corps  march  to  the  relief  of  the  centre — and,  in 
the  darkness,  surprise,  and  confusion  of  the  moment, 
bring  on  a  general  conflict  till  morning.  In  the  mean 
time  the  American  party  would  have  retreated  on  our 
works,  under  the  disguise  of  the  Congreve  rockets,  and 
by  the  signal-lights  previously  arranged  for  their  gui 
dance.  This  plan  Macomb  conceived  to  be  the  more 
practicable,  as  the  soldiers  of  the  different  British  regi 
ments  were  strangers  to  each  other,  some  of  them  not 
even  speaking  the  English  language.  But,  on  con 
sulting  with  the  principal  officer  of  Engineers,  who 
thought  that  the  strength  of  the  American  force  would 
not  justify  the  risk  of  losing  so  many  men,  as  would 
compose  the  attacking  party,  Macomb  relinquished  the 
design.  In  consequence,  only  fifty  men  were  detailed 
under  Captain  M'Glassin,  who,  in  the  sortie,  gallantly 
carried  the  battery  near  Fort  Brown,  spiked  the  guns, 
and  demolished  the  works. 

While  the  enemy  were  sitting  down  before  the  Ame- 
8* 


90  MEMOIR    OF 

rican  works,  these  were  put  in  as  good  a  state  of  de 
fence  as  time  permitted,  and  indefatigable  labour  could 
effect.  The  batteries  of  the  three  principal  forts,  and  of 
the  redoubts,  were  served  with  signal  vigour,  science, 
and  effect.  That  our  artillery,  in  its  several  stations, 
did  skilful  and  powerful  execution,  was  testified  by  the 
General,  in  his  orders  of  the  day,  and  by  the  subse 
quent  acknowledgment  of  the  enemy. 

Under  the  impression,  that  the  enemy  could  not  carry 
the  works  by  assault,  nor  yet  reduce  them  by  siege  un 
der  10  or  12  days,  and  then  only  provided  the  attack 
were  made  on  the  South  front,  where  they  would  have 
ground  to  move  on,  and  to  open  trenches  in  a  regular 
manner,  Macomb  felt  an  entire  confidence  that,  before 
so  many  days  could  elapse,  if  the  occasion  should  require, 
the  country  every  where  would  rush  to  the  rescue  of 
his  little  band  of  American  Spartans,  at  the  straits 
of  this  modern  Thermopolse :  at  all  events,  honour  and 
patriotism  spoke  but  one  voice,  and  he  obeyed  it. 

The  volunteer  Green  Mountain  Boys,  and  the  Mili 
tia  of  New- York,  continued  to  pour  in.  It  was  a  great 
point  of  policy  to  employ,  to  the  greatest  advantage, 
these  patriotic  but  inexperienced  troops.  The  General 
took  them  to  the  magazines  where  he  personally  de 
livered  them  arms  and  ammunition.  He  addressed 
them,  thanking  them  for  the  spirit  they  had  manifested 


MAC  OMB. 


91 


by  coming  to  his  relief,  when  opposed  by  such  power 
ful  hosts.  He  advised  them  not  to  think  of  forming 
into  large  parties ;  but  to  choose  their  leaders  and  act 
in  small;  separate  bands  ;  to  fall  on  the  enemy  at  any 
point,  and  attack  his  piquets  and  out-posts,  night  and 
day,  giving  him  no  rest ;  to  harass  him  in  his  rear 
and  Hanks,  pick  up  stragglers,  and  get  every  informa 
tion  of  his  designs  ;  never  to  oppose  a  regular  attack, 
but  to  retire  as  the  enemy  advanced,  and  advance  as 
he  retired.  He  then  informed  them  that  provisions  and 
ammunition  would  be  deposited  for  them  at  certain 
points,  to  which  they  could  resort  when  in  want  of  a 
supply.  He  particularly  requested  them  to  keep  away 
from  the  forts,  but  yet  to  close  on  the  enemy,  should 
he  advance  to  the  attack  of  the  works  ;  and  to  lie  along 
the.  river  and  in  the  woods  to  prevent  his  crossing  at 
the  upper  fords.  Among  these  volunteers  was  Gene 
ral  Strong,  who  held  influence  with  his  patriotic  coun 
trymen,  and  proved  himself  worthy  of  their  reliance. 
On  his  introduction,  Macomb  gave  him  a  short,  but 
kind  salutation,  and,  plucking  an  Evergreen  that  stood 
by,  presented  it  to  Strong,  begging  him  to  assume  it, 
for  himself  and  corps,  as  an  emblem  of  their  Green 
Mountains,  and  perennial  valour.  The  directions 
given  to  the  Volunteers  and  Militia,  fortunately,  were 
respectfully  received,  and  faithfully  complied  with, 


92  MEMOIR    OF 

Every  day  the  light  parties  of  Regulars,  and  Militia, 
and  Volunteers,  were  more  or  less  engaged  in  skirmish 
es  ;  while  the  artillery  was  constantly  and  successfully 
playing  upon  the  new  works  being  erected  by  the  ene 
my,  until  the  llth.  The  day  before,  Macomb  had  been 
informed  by  his  spies  that  the  British  Commander  had 
determined  on  a  general  attack — that  the  storming 
parties  were  detailed,  and  1200  ladders  provided.  From 
his  situation  and  the  nature  of  the  troops  which  came 
to  his  assistance,  Macomb  was  aware  that  he  was  sur 
rounded  by  spies  in  the  British  interest,  who  took  the 
garb  of  militiamen  ;  and  from  the  manner  in  which  he 
was  watched,  and  his  conversation  listened  to,  by  cer 
tain  suspicious  fellows,  he  availed  himself  of  their  in 
strumentality  to  deceive  their  masters,  by  letting  them 
understand,  as  if  he  thought  them  militiamen  and 
wished  to  encourage  them,  that  General  Izard's  army 
was  at  hand,  waiting  only  the  crossing  of  the  British 
army  to  move  up  and  attack  it,  and  that  there  were 
now  more  than  10,000  militia  in  the  woods,  and  that 
double  the  number  would  join  them  by  the  next  day. 
These  fellows,  at  night,  were  seen  to  pass  over  the  Sa- 
ranac  into  the  enemy's  camp,  carrying,  no  doubt,  the 
inspiring  intelligence,  with  which  Macomb  had  filled 
them. 

From  the  number  of  batteaux,  which  were  in  the 


MACOMB.  93 


Uuarter  Masters  Department  at  Pittsburgh,  Macomb 
conceived  the  idea,  in  the  event  of  the  capture  of  our 
fleet,  not  only  of  retaking  it,  but  also  of  capturing  that 
of  the  enemy.  He  reasoned  that,  if  the  Americans 
practiced  their  usual  precision  of  fire,  however  the  de 
cision  of  the  battle  might  turn,  the  hostile  squadron, 
would  be  greatly  crippled,  and,  after  the  action,  wrould 
be  in  such  a  state  of  confusion,  fatigue,  intoxication, 
negligence,  and  general  disability,  as  to  become  an  easy 
conquest.  He,  therefore,  ordered  the  batteaux  to  be 
arranged  under  the  banks  of  the  Lake  and  prepared, 
in  such  a  contingency,  to  receive  6  or  800  men,  with 
which  the  General  would  embark  and  board  the  fleets. 
The  actual  situation  of  the  squadron,  at  the  close  of  the 
engagement,  confirmed  the  feasibility  of  the  project. 
An  enterprise,  like  this,  was  worthy  of  the  fearless  soul 
of  Macomb  to  conceive,  and  of  his  unconquered  arm  to 
execute. 

As  another  instance  of  the  interest  he  took  in  our 
naval  honour  on  the  Lakes,  scarcely  second  to  that 
which  he  took  in  his  own  command,  Macomb  planted 
on  Crab  Island  a  battery  of  two  twelve  pounders,  served 
by  the  invalids  of  the  Hospital,  under  Surgeon  Mann, 
to  protect  the  left  flank  of  our  Squadron.  In  the  attack, 
the  British  galleys,  destined  to  turn  that  flank,  were 
beaten  off;  and  a  sloop  of  war,  of  ten  guns,  leading 


94 


MEMOIR    OF 


them,  was  driven  on  the  rocks,  and  compelled  to  sur 
render. 

Knowing  that  the  meditated  attack  would  certainly 
be  made,  if  made  at  all,  on  the  south  front  of  the  forti 
fications,  Macomb  at  night,  after  the  departure  of  the 
spies,  caused  all  the  roads  leading  to  the  works  to  be 
planted  with  evergreens,  such  as  pines  which  prevailed 
there  ;  and  directed  the  fallen  leaves  to  be  strewed  over 
the  naked  ground  so  as  to  disguise  any  appearance  of 
a  road.  He  at  the  same  time  caused  other  roads  to  be 
opened,  all  leading  into  an  old  road  that  ran  to  Salmon 
River.  On  this  road,  a  field  piece  was  stationed  under 
Lieutenant  Sumter,  a  gallant  officer  of  the  Light  Artil 
lery,  with  directions  to  await  the  coming  of  the  enemy. 
The  volunteers  and  militia  were  advised  to  keep  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road,  if  the  enemy  should  drive,  them 
from  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  to  maintain  a  constant 
fire,  whether  the  enemy  was  near  or  not, — their  main 
object  being  to  lead  him  astray,  confuse,  and  embarrass 
him. 

On  the  llth,  at  break  of  day,  a  general  movement 
was  discovered  in  the  enemy's  camp,  all  the  different 
corps  being  under  arms.  Soon  afterward  the  British 
fleet  hove  in  sight  off  Cumberland  Head,  fired  a  salute 
in  passing,  and  at  8  o'clock,  displayed  the  royal  flag  in 
Pittsburgh  bay.  The  batteries  on  land  and  lake 


MACOMB  95 

opened  at  the  same  instant ;  and  a  general  cannonade 
and  bombardment  were  kept  up,  in  the  dread  conflict 
of  army  with  army,  and  fleet  with  fleet :  'twas  a  mag 
nificent  spectacle,  a  splendid  drama,  especially  as  the 
scene  of  action  was  laid  in  the  interior,  mid  our  inland 
oceans.  The  sky  was  filled  with  bombs  and  shells, 
rockets  and  balls,  the  lightning  and  thunder  of  human 
power — it  seemed  as  if  the  elements  of  nature  were 
convulsed.  The  British  troops  moved  forward  toward  the 
American  works,  and  made  a  demonstration  before  the 
bridges,  with  a  view  to  amuse,  while  the  assaulting 
columns  should  pass  in  what  the  enemy  considered  our 
rear,  but  which  was  actually  our  front,  as  tbe  river 
protected  us  on  the  north  side,  which  had  thus  far  been 
the  point  exposed  to  their  attacks.  As  was  anticipated, 
the  plan  of  the  false  roads  completely  deceived  the 
assailing  parties,  and  they  marched  five  miles  out  of 
their  way,  until  they  met  the  field  piece  under  Lieut. 
Sumter,  who  gave  them  an  unexpected  fire.  Through 
their  march,  they  were  also  handled  very  roughly  by 
the  volunteers  and  militia  ;  and,  being  fatigued  after 
marching  so  far  with  their  ciumsey  scaling-ladders 
made  out  of  horse-racks  picked  up  in  their  neighbour 
hood,  and  involved  in  the  mazes  of  the  woods  which 
seemed  interminable  and  inextricable,  and  which  now 
thronged  with  sharp  shooters,  they  threw  down  their 


96  MEMOIR    OF 

ladders,  and  precipitately  retreated,  leaving  a  handsome 
company  of  the  British  76th,  which  formed  the  advance 
guard,  to  be  cut  up  and  captured,  not  an  officer  or  man 
escaping.  Mean  while,  the  action  on  the  Lake  had 
been  decided,  it  lasting  only  two  hours  ;  and  the  firing 
between  the  armies  closed  at  sunset. 

All  was  now  calm  and  quiet — the  sky  was  serene — 
and  the  intermingled  cry  of  the  sentinels  of  the  hostile 
armies,  on  the  ramparts  and  along  the  line,  alone  broke 
the  portentous  silence.  It  was  just  at  the  moment 
when  the  attack  was  expected — every  man  at  his  post 
anxiously  awaiting  the  foe — when  the  rumbling  of 
carriage- wheels  upon  the  hard-beaten  roads  indicated  a 
movement  in  the  hostile  camp. 

At  this  juncture,  some  deserters  were  brought  in, 
who  declared  that  the  Army  of  Sir  George  Provost  was 
on  the  Retreat.  It  was  impossible  to  believe  such  a 
statement — impossible  to  believe  that  he  would  retreat 
at  all — but  that  he  would  retreat  in  the  night,  before  a 
handful  of  men,  and  without  making  a  full  trial  of  his 
strength,  was  most  of  all  incredible.  The  next  morn 
ing,  however,  brought  confirmation  of  the  fact.  In 
credulity  yielded  only  to  the  evidence  of  the  senses. 
Scattered  equipage,  broken  carriages,  abandoned  bag 
gage-wagons,  deserted  magazines,  and  straggling  plun 
derers,  alone,  marked  the  field,  where  so  lately  waved, 


MACOMB. 


97 


in  proud  defiance,  the  ensigns  of  a  thousand  victories,  the 
time-honoured  banner  of  the  House  of  Brunswick  !  The 
wounded  were  left  in  hospital,  in  charge  of  a  surgeon 
having  a  note  from  Sir  George  recommending  them  to 
the  humanity  of  the  conqueror.  The  light  troops  were 
sent  in  pursuit.  Deserters  came  in  by  platoons  ;  and 
prisoners  were  made  in  all  directions.  But  a  violent 
storm  now  setting  in  induced  the  General  to  recall  his 
troops.  Thus  ended  the  siege  and  attack  of  Platts- 
burgh,  during  which  the  loss  of  the  Americans  in  kill 
ed  and  wounded  was  too  inconsiderable  to  be  mention 
ed.  The  Governor  General  of  the  Canadas,  with 
16,000  veteran  Invincibles  of  Wellington — with  sol 
diers  who  had  conquered  the  conqueror  of  Europe,  and 
won,  in  many  an  ensanguined  field,  the  trophies  of  im 
perishable  fame — now  abandoned  the  attempted  con 
quest  and  division  of  these]  United  States,  by  a  sys 
tematic  co-operation  of  land  and  naval  forces  concerted 
in  the  cabinet  councils  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  ; — and 
retired  into  Canada,  before  1500  regular  Yankee  troops 
and  their  voluntary  comrades  of  the  Militia ! 

As  matter  of  instruction,  and  also  of  curiosity,  it  may 
be  worth  while  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  the  phenome 
non  of  this  retreat.  It  could  not  be  in  our  vast  infe 
riority  of  discipline  and  numbers.  It  could  not  be  in 
the  mighty  phalanx  of  the  British  forces.  It  could 

9 


98  MEMOIR   OF 

not  be  in  the  capture  of  the  fleet :  for  that  should  have 
but  provoked  them  to  avenge  the  injury,  and  merge 
the  disgrace  in  the  blaze  of  their  own  glory.  What 
then  was  it  ?  It  was  the  ascendant  genius,  the  ex- 
haustless  resources,  sleepless  vigilance,  invincible  forti 
tude,  the  practiced  skill,  the  matured  science,  of  the 
American  Commander.  He  employed  the  whole  stra- 
tagie  of  war.  He  foiled  them  in  all  their  incipient 
attempts.  He  lead  them  off  from  the  point  of  attack 
by  the  ruse  of  the  roads — involved  them  in  the  laby 
rinth  of  woods  swarming  with  marksmen — surprised 
them  by  ambush — cut  them  off  by  detachments — de 
stroyed  their  batteries  by  sorties  in  the  night — filled 
them  with  terror,  through  their  own  spies,  at  the  ex 
pectation  of  his  strong  reinforcements  at  hand — in 
duced  them  to  believe,  by  the  repeated  cheerings  of  the 
soldiers  on  the  battlements,  by  his  manner  of  mounting 
the  guards,  and  by  parading  the  troops  through  the 
nocturnal  light  of  burning  buildings,  in  the  unreal 
strength  of  his  garrisons — and  taught  them,  by  the  ex 
hibition  of  every  faculty  and  resource  which  the  science 
and  art  of  war  can  know  or  practice  ;  by  the  daring  spi 
rit  of  his  enterprise,  indomitable  energy,  and  successful 
hardihood,  that  American  Republicans,  in  the  cause  of 
Freedom  and  their  Country,  are  not  to  be  cheaply  con 
quered  ! 


MACOMB.  99 

Ueneral  Macomb  now  dismissed  the  volunteers  and 
militia,  with  his  grateful  acknowledgments  of  their 
services,  in  his  own  name  and  in  that  of  the  country 
and  the  government.  They  returned  to  their  homes, 
with  the  feelings  of  men,  citizens  and  patriots,  con 
scious  of  having  done  their  duty  in  a  sacred  cause. 
They  were  welcomed  by  their  families :  the  public 
prints  applauded  them  :  and  the  country,  in  every  sec 
tion  of  their  residence,  delighted  to  reward  them  with 
proofs  of  popular  confidence.  Their  respective  States 
were  proud  of  their  achievements  :  and  a  stimulus  has 
thus  been  provided,  by  their  example,  for  citizen  soldiers 
to  rally  around  the  eagle-bearing  Standard  of  their  coun 
try,  should  that  signal  of  honour,  in  any  future  exigency, 
be  again  unfurled.  The  papers  every  where  in  the  Uni 
ted  States  teemed  with  merited  eulogy  of  the  Defence  of 
Plattsburgh.  The  Legislatures  of  the  several  states  pass 
ed  resolves  of  thanks  to  the  officers  and  men  ;  and  Gene 
ral  Macomb  was  noticed  with  especial  commendation? 
particularly  by  his  own  State  and  the  State  of  Vermont. 
The  State  of  New- York  complimented  him  with  a  su 
perb  sword,  presented  by  Governor  Tompkins  ;  and 
the  city  of  New- York  gave  him  its  freedom  in  a  gold 
box,  presented  by  its  Mayor  De  Witt  Clinton  ;  it  also 
requested  him  to  sit  for  his  portrait,  to  be  placed  in  its 
gallery  of  distinguished  patriots.  Nor  was  the  national 


100  MEMOIR    OF 

legislature  unmindful  of  the  great  debt  of  gratitude 
which  the  country  owed  him.  Congress  passed  a  vote 
expressive  of  their  sense  of  his  services,  and  directed 
that  a  gold  medal  should  be  struck,  emblematical  of 
his  triumph  at  Plattsburgh,  to  be  presented  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States.  The  President  also 
conferred  on  Macomb  the  rank  of  Major  General  by 
Brevet,  the  commission  bearing  date  on  the  day  of  the 
victory. 

Such  was  the  anxiety  manifested  in  England  for  the 
result  of  the  gigantic  enterprise  thus  defeated,  that  the 
gazettes  of  London  had  already  proclaimed  the  suc 
cessful  invasion  of  New- York,  and  the  capture  of 
Plattsburgh.  The  British  Commissioners  at  Ghent 
were  looking,  with  sanguine  confidence,  for  the  official 
accounts  of  the  progress  of  the  British  Arms,  in  Ameri 
ca,  expecting  to  stand  in  an  attitude  for  dictating  to 
our  Envoys  the  conditions  of  peace.  The  London 
publications  having  flattered  their  hopes,  by  announ 
cing  a  false  issue  to  the  contest,  they  heightened  their 
demands,  insisting  on  our  recognition  of  the  Indian 
Tribes  as  independent  nations,  and  urging  other  pre 
texts  and  pretensions,  to  protract  a  pacification,  until 
their  receipt  of  authentic  intelligence.  What  a  disap 
pointment  !  How  the  cup  of  their  hopes  was  dashed 
from  the  lip  !  From  their  golden  dreams,  to  what  dis 


MACOMB. 


101 


astrous  reality  they  awakened  !  And  the  spell  of  this 
splendid  enchantment  broken,  too,  by  a  mere  guard  of 
Yankee  Soldiers,  and  a  hasty  collection  of  patriotic 
yeomanry,  who  hold  in  fee  the  soil  they  till !  The 
affair  of  Plattsburgh,  auspiciously  for  our  honour  and 
interests,  closed  the  negociations  at  Ghent,  and  set  the 
seal  to  the  Treaty  of  Peace.  Our  General  in  Chief, 
Alexander  Macomb,  may,  therefore,  brightly  wear,  as 
he  has  nobly  won,  both  the  civic  crown  and  the  laurel 
wreath. 

General  Macomb  still  remained  in  command  of 
Plattsburgh  and  the  adjacent  country.  The  com 
mencement  of  the  war  upon  the  Borders  was  attended 
with  many  vexatious  occurrences,  owing  to  the  inimical 
feelings  which  party  spirit  had  infused,  even  into  the 
military  corps  employed,  on  either  side,  in  defence  of 
the  frontiers.  The  Regiments,  which  had  been  long 
quartered  in  Canada,  viewed  the  national  hostilities, 
rather  as  a  civil  commotion,  than  a  regular  war.  Their 
contiguity  to  the  United  States,  the  discussions  which 
they  daily  read  in  our  newspapers,  the  identity  of  lan 
guage,  and,  in  many  instances,  of  feeling  and  opinion, 
lead  them  imperceptibly  into  the  belief,  that  they  them 
selves  were  a  party  in  our  political  contentions.  They, 
therefore,  with  few  exceptions,  treated  our  officers,  who 
fell  into  their  hands,  with  no  kind  of  respect ;  and, 


1C2  MEMOIR    OF 

when  speaking  of  the  Government,  held  language  ill 
comporting  with  the  character  of  men  professing  to  be 
long  to  a  high-minded  nation.  But  the  progress,  which 
our  troops  were  daily  making  in  discipline  and  know 
ledge  of  warfare,  began  to  teach  them  better  lessons. 
After  the  affair  of  Pittsburgh,  they  manifested  a  higher 
respect  than  they  were  wont  to  do.  The  troops,  how 
ever,  who  had  served  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  under 
that  Great  Captain  Wellington,  had  never  evinced  any 
such  illiberality.  The  war,  after  their  arrival,  took  a 
more  militaire  complexion.  To  relieve  the  inhabitants 
residing  near  the  line,  marked  by  the  45th  degree  of 
north  latitude,  constituting  the  frontier  intrusted  to 
General  Macomb,  from  the  vexations  and  sufferings  to 
which  they  were  exposed  under  the  former  system  pur 
sued  by  the  British  Commanders,  an  arrangement  was 
entered  into,  between  him  and  General  Sir  Thomas 
Brisbane,  to  allow  the  inhabitants,  on  either  side,  an 
uninterrupted  pursuit  of  their  peaceful  occupations,  to 
cross  the  lines,  and,  in  fact,  to  enjoy  ail  the  privileges 
of  neutrals,  so  long  as  they  remained  non-combatant. 
An  habitual  courtesy  was,  also,  practiced  between  the 
piquets  and  out-posts  of  the  respective  armies  and  in 
the  intercourse  of  the  officers,  which  calls  up,  for  a 
ifioment,  as  a  vision  flits  across  the  mind,  our  treasured 
recollections  of  the  age  of  Chivalry  and  Romance,  when 


MACOMB.  103 

the  ferocities  of  Avar  were  softened  into  shade  ;  and  the 
bleeding  wounds  of  a  captive,  slain  by  his  foe,  were 
quenched  by  the  ministering  hand  of  that  foe,  converted 
to  a  friend — and  when  the  high  deeds  of  heroism  were 
prompted,  ennobled,  and  endeared,  by  the  kindliest 
sympathies,  the  softest  affections,  and  all  the  charities 
of  humanity,  mingled  with  the  death-conflicts  of  rival 
prowess,  and  the  loftiest  aspirations  of  ambition. 

On  our  lines,  the  barbarisms  of  shooting  sentinels 
on  post,  and  of  individual  affrays,  a  bad  imitation  of  the 
Indian  model  of  warfare,  were  now  abolished.  A  little 
familiar  incident  occurred,  to  show  the  spirit  which  pre 
vailed  of  mutual  forbearance,  conciliation,  and  good 
offices.  A  servant  of  a  British  Adjutant  deserted  to 
our  side,  with  his  master's  horse,  clothes,  and  money. 
On  being  brought  to  Head  Quarters  and  examined,  he 
confessed  that  all  the  articles  were  stolen.  General 
Macomb  immediately  ordered  off  Lieutenant  Riley  with 
a  flag  to  restore  them.  While  in  the  act  of  re-delivering 
the  property  at  the  British  camp,  an  American  deserter 
arrived,  with  General  Macomb's  charger,  fresh  stolen 
from  his  stables.  The  charger  being  recognised  by 
Lieutenant  Riley  was  promptly  given  up,  the  British 
being  pleased  with  an  opportunity,  so  singularly  pre 
sented,  of  reciprocating  the  courteous  liberality  extended 
to  themselves, 


104  MEMOIR    OF 

Having  adjusted  matters  on  the  Champlain  frontier, 
General  Macomb  was  permitted  to  return  to  the  city  of 
New- York,  and  to  visit  his  family  connexions  at  Bel- 
ville  in  New- Jersey.  On  his  way  thither  he  was  loaded 
with  demonstrations  of  the  public  regard.  But  he  had 
not  long  enjoyed  the  domestic  circle,  ere  news  was 
received  of  another  attack  on  Plattsburgh  being  in  pre 
paration.  He  hastened  back  to  his  post.  He  had  au 
thority  to  call  to  his  assistance  all  the  disposable  regu 
lar  troops,  east  of  New- York  and  Lake  Champlain, 
and  also  the  militia  of  the  States  of  New- York  and 
Vermont.  From  experience.  General  Macomb  had 
found  it  preferable  to  call  out  the  militia  on  the  spur  of 
the  occasion,  than  to  embody  them  for  any  length  of 
time  previously,  as  they  suffer,  both  in  health  and  spi 
rits,  by  long  absence  from  their  comfortable  homes  and 
usual  occupations.  He  had  observed  that  they,  espe 
cially  the  heads  of  families,  were  liable  to  a  real  malady, 
known  to  physicians  by  the  name  of  nostalgia,  which 
not  only  incapacitated  them  for  service,  but,  in  many 
cases,  actually  proved  fatal.  Beside  these  considerations, 
being  ever  mindful  of  the  duty  of  public  economy, 
he  was  unwilling  to  augment,  unnecessarily,  the  ex 
penses  of  the  war.  The  winter  was  passed  in  expec 
tation  of  a  renewed  attack.  New  detachments  of  regu 
lar  troops  arrived.  They  were  improved  in  discipline, 


MACOMB.  105 

and  the  works  increased  in  strength.  The  cold  was 
excessive ;  but  the  expectation  of  another  visit  from 
Sir  George  kept  up  the  spirits  of  the  troops,  and  made 
the  winter  pass  cheerily  off.  On  the  receipt  of  the 
news  in  this  country,  that  the  preliminaries  of  Peace 
had  been  settled  at  Ghent,  the  President  of  the  United 
States  ordered  a  suspension  of  hostilities.  Macomb 
conveyed  this  intelligence  by  a  flag  to  Sir  George  ;  and 
the  war  terminated.  Some  of  the  principal  officers  of 
the  British  Army,  on  their  way  home,  anxious  to  see 
the  works  before  which  they  had  been  so  lately  repulsed, 
visited  the  American  General  and  the  forts  under  his 
command.  They  expressed  their  surprise  at  the  skill 
and  strength  of  their  construction.  The  efficiency  of 
our  Artillery,  too,  during  the  late  seige,  had  induced  a 
belief  among  them,  that  our  cannon  had  the  rifle  bore ; 
and  they  obtained  permission  to  inspect  it,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  ascertaining  the  truth  of  their  conjecture. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1815,  an  order  came  for  dis 
charging  all  the  troops  who  had  enlisted  to  serve  during 
the  war.  Those  enlisted  for  the  term  of  5  years,  who 
had  any  considerable  time  yet  to  serve,  were  directed 
to  be  mustered,  with  a  view  of  forming  the  contempla 
ted  peace  establishment ;  which  was  settled  at  10.000 
men,  retaining  two  Major  Generals  and  four  Briga 
diers,  Macomb  was  selected  to  be  one  of  the  Briga- 


106  MEMOIR   OF 

diers,  and  stood  at  the  head  of  that  rank.  Having  dis 
charged  the  troops  who  enlisted  for  the  term  of  the  war, 
and  the  inefficient,  he  repaired,  on  an  order  from  the 
President,  to  the  seat  of  Government,  to  assist  ras  a 
member  of  a  Board  to  organize  the  Peace  establish 
ment,  in  conformity  to  the  act  of  Congress.  A  more 
painful  duty  never  devolved  on  Macomb.  Full  of 
sympathy  for  distress  in  all  its  varied  shapes,  and  em 
phatically  the  Soldier* s  friend,  for  him  it  was  a  task 
indeed,  to  cast  adrift,  upon  the  sea  of  life,  men  who 
should  have  been  grappled  to  the  land,  which  their 
blood  had  enriched,  and  their  arm  protected.  The  act 
of  Congress  contemplated  a  small,  but  efficient  force  ; 
and,  consequently,  those  honourable  men,  whom  years, 
or  infirmities,  or  wounds,  rendered  incapable  of  further 
service,  in  active  warfare,  were  to  be  excluded.  The 
duty,  however  painful,  was  necessarily  performed  ;  and 
the  supernumerary  officers  were  disbanded  on  the  17th 
of  May,  1815.  In  the  distribution  of  the  commands, 
Macomb  was  assigned  to  the  3d  military  department  in 
the  Division  of  the  North.  He  fixed  his  Head  Quar 
ters  in  the  city  of  New- York,  and  organized  the  troops 
on  that  station. 

About  this  time  the  Department  of  War  devolved  on 
William  H.  Crawford.  Of  such  a  man,  introduced  by 
the  course  of  our  narrative,  a  passing  notice  will  be 


MACOMB.  107 

deemed  a  pardonable  digression.  With  the  defective 
and  deranged  system  of  the  Department,  under  all  the 
embarrassments  of  a  transition  from  war  to  peace, 
having  new  stations  to  designate,  conflicting  interests 
to  reconcile,  vast  amounts  of  public  stores  and  other 
property  to  preserve  from  waste  and  peculation,  and  to 
conform  those  habits,  which  the  license  of  war  had 
generated,  to  the  strict  rules  of  civil  order  and  military 
obedience — in  fine,  having  before  him  a  chaotic  mass 
to  mould  and  fashion — he  spoke  order  out  of  the  con 
fusion,  established  economy,  created  efficiency,  trans 
fused  his  own  spirit  into  the  breast  of  the  Army,  dis 
carded  imbecility  and  profligacy,  fostered  talent,  reward 
ed  meritorious  conduct,  preserved  the  harmony,  and 
greatly  promoted  the  respectability,  of  the  service.  He 
was  not,  however,  sufficiently  long  in  charge  of  this 
office,  nor,  under  circumstances,  to  enable  him  entirely 
to  arrange  it  anew,  and  stamp  it  with  his  signet.  In 
his  preceding  and  subsequent  situations,  in  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States,  in  his  foreign  Embassy,  and  in 
the  national  Treasury,  in  his  youth  and  in  his  man 
hood,  with  Herculean  strength,  he  hewed  out,  and 
raised  up,  the  granite  pillars  of  his  fame,  and  planted 
them  on  the  foundations,  deep  and  broad,  of  national 
prosperity  and  honour.  He  was  a  democrat ;  for  he. 
like  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  believed  in 


108  MEMOIR    OP 

the  power,  virtue,  and  intelligence  of  the  people,  or,  in 
other  words,  that  the  common  sense  of  the  people, 
guided  by  their  own  true  interests,  rightly  understood; 
would  be  a  valid  check  upon  usurpers  and  demagogues. 
The  chief  authority  of  the  State  was,  alone,  fitted  to 
afford  ample  scope  for  the  demonstration  of  his  immense 
capabilities.  He  was  like  the  intellectual  giants  of  an 
tiquity.  Acknowledged  by  great  men  to  be  the  great 
est  of  their  number,  he  was  the  leader,  by  unanimous 
assent  and  instinctive  impulse,  of  the  most  powerful 
party  in  this  country,  for  talent,  character,  and  republi 
can  principles.  Characterized  by  his  simplicity,  that 
truest  test  alike  of  genius  and  of  real  greatness,  and 
sanctified  by  the  purity  of  his  motives,  he  always  forgot 
himself,  when  he  thought  of  his  country  ;  and  his 
country  was  in  all  his  thoughts.  Self-created,  and 
self-poised,  he  looked  around  him  through  all  men  and 
things  :  he  held  them  in  the  balance  of  his  unerring 
judgment,  and  determined,  to  a  scruple,  their  weight 
and  value.  He  was  master  of  human  nature.  His 
talents  were  administrative.  His  qualifications  indi 
cated  that  he  was  destined  for  the  highest  station.  But 
heaven  is  veiled  from  us  ;  and  though  its  decrees  pierce 
through  the  veil,  the  motives  of  them  lie  buried  in  the 
obscuring  splendour  of  Omniscience.  Crawford  !  Vene 
rable,  beloved  name  !  When  thy  sun  shall  set,  it  will 


MACOMB.  Ivy 

Detain  its  magnitude,  leaving  in  its  golden  track  a  mel 
lowed,  but  enduring  radiance. 

From  the  unsettled  state  of  the  Canadian  frontier  on 
the  Lakes,  and  the  restlessness  of  the  Indians,  Secre 
tary  Crawford,  selecting  General  Macomb,  directed 
him  to  remove  his  Head  Quarters  to  Detroit,  and  take 
command  of  the  5th  Military  Department.  Macomb's 
arrival  at  Detroit  must  have  been  one  of  the  most  flat 
tering  and  gratifying  incidents  of  his  eventful  life. 
After  an  absence  of  twenty-five  years,  a  period  of  hard 
ship  and  adventure,  of  toils  and  perils,  he  re-visits  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  the  scenes  of  his  childhood.  The 
boy,  that  was  fondled  in  the  soldier's  arms,  comes  now 
among  the  companions  of  his  youth  a  Major  General 
of  the  triumphant  American  Army,  covered  with  his 
country's  and  the  world's  applause,  his  breast  deco 
rated  with  the  insignia  of  honour  snatched  at  the  can 
non's  mouth.  The  tales  of  fiction  scarcely  afford  a 
more  interesting  plot  or  a  happier  denouement.  On 
his  return  among  them,  he  was  received  by  all  classes 
of  the  citizens  with  the  strongest  demonstrations  of 
pleasure  and  delight — the  French  and  American  popu 
lation  vying  with  each  other  in  respect  for  his  character 
and  services. 

The  duties,  which  now  devolved  on  him,  were  of  an 
arduous  nature.  The  surrender  of  this  post,  at  the 

10 


110  MEMOIR  OF 

commencement  of  the  war,  threw  open  the  whole 
Michigan  Territory  to  the  ravages  of  savage  incursion. 
The  ploughshare  of  desolation  had  passed  over  it — 
every  farm  laid  waste — even  the  fences  prostrated — not 
a  fort  or  barrack  remaining — the  people  suffering  every 
distress  :  Detroit  was.  To  resuscitate  the  town  and 
adjacent  country,  and  to  protect  the  inhabitants,  were 
the  tasks  which  he  now  assumed  and  executed.  He 
forthwith  made  such  a  disposition  of  his  troops  as  effect 
ually  to  incapacitate  the  savages  from  any  serious  mo 
lestation  of  the  frontier  settlers.  He  established  the  posts 
of  Fort  Gratiot,  Chicago,  Michilimackinac,  Green  Bay. 
and  subsequently,  those  of  Prairie  du  Cliien,  St.  Peter's, 
and  St.  Mary's — retaining  at  Detroit  a  sufficient  force  to 
preserve  tranquillity  in  its  immediate  vicinity.  Having 
provided  for  defence,  he  turned  his  attention  to  improve 
ments.  He  projected  and  constructed  roads,  erected 
barracks  and  arsenals,  contributed  his  funds  toward 
the  building  of  public  edifices,  and  lent  every  facility, 
as  far  as  was  compatible  with  his  duty,  in  his  public, 
and,  as  far  as  his  means  would  authorize,  in  his  pri 
vate,  capacity.  The  counsels,  too,  of  experience  and  in 
telligence,  in  a  new  and  rising  section  of  country,  which 
lie  freely  offered,  were  not  without  their  value.  He  had 
the  satisfaction  to  see,  during  his  command  here,  the 
Capital  and  the  surrounding  country  spring  up  with 


MACOMB. 


Ill 


renovated  vigour — the  inhabitants  returning— the  popu 
lation  increasing — agriculture  and  commerce  flourishing 
— and  the  embryo  State  advancing,  with  rapid  strides, 
in  improvements  of  every  kind.  That  his  own  agency 
had  been  eminently  conducive  to  this  prosperity  must 
have  been  a  reflexion  that  carried  with  it  a  proud  and 
happy  consciousness.  The  Territory,  as  a  token  of 
its  gratitude,  gave  the  name  of  Macomb  to  one  of  its 
counties. 

He  continued  in  command  of  this  station,  until  the 
reduction  of  the  Army,  in  June,  1821,  when  he  was 
placed  at  the  Head  of  the  Engineer  Department,  and 
ordered  to  the  city  of  Washington.  As  soon  as  this 
new  destination  was  known,  a  public  meeting  was  called 
of  all  the  citizens,  at  which  the  Governor  of  the  Terri 
tory  presided.  They  unanimously  voted  an  Address, 
with  a  piece  of  plate  bearing  suitable  emblems  and  de 
vices,  to  be  presented  by  Governor  Cass,  in  the  name 
of  the  citizens,  in  approbation  of  his  character  as  a 
citizen  and  an  officer :  It  expressed  their  sentiments  of 
friendship,  applause  of  his  civic  virtues,  gratitude  for  his 
military  administration,  regret  at  h  is  departure,  and 
prayers  for  his  future  weal.  The  French  Catholic 
Clergy,  headed  by  the  Bishop  ;  the  Protestant  Clergy  ; 
the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  all  denominations  ;  the 
Governor  ;  the  Heads  of  Departments  ;  the  Judges  of 
the  Courts ;  the  citizens,  generally ;  and  the  inhabit- 


112 


MEMOIR   OF 


ants  of  the  British  side  also  ;  all  waited  on  him  in  a 
body,  in  testimony  of  their  respect  and  kindest  wishes 
for  himself,  his  Lady,  and  Family,  to  whom  they  were 
all  personally  endeared.  The  poor  French  inhabitants 
particularly,  on  either  side  the  strait,  were  not  less  anx 
ious  to  exhibit  their  remembrance  of  the  protection  he 
had  afforded  them  ;  of  the  consideration  he  evinced  for 
their  peculiar  situation  ;  of  the  respect  paid  to  their  re 
ligion  ;  of  his  exertions  to  repair  their  wrongs,  to  adjust 
their  rightful  claims  on  the  government  for  their  ser 
vices  during  the  war,  and  to  secure  to  them  their  titles 
to  lands  on  which  they  had  long  been  settled.  Indeed, 
all  classes,  without  distinction  of  politics  or  religion,  of 
profession  or  occupation,  from  glowing  breasts  and  elo 
quent  tongues,  bade  him  adieu,  with  feelings  which  it 
was  alike  honourable  in  them  to  entertain,  and  in  him, 
to  inspire. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1821,  with  a  heart  overflowing^ 
toward  a  people,  among  whom  he  had  dwelt  so  long  in, 
the  reciprocal  exercise  of  the  kindliest  affections  and  good 
offices,  he  embarked  in  a  steamboat,  with  his  whole 
Family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  nine  young  children? 
and  his  mother-in-law.  He,  also,  took  on  board  with 
him  a  barge,  in  which  he  had  traversed  the  Lakes 
through  their  greatest  extent.  The  party,  after  a  plea 
sant  and  diversified  route  by  land  and  water,  safely  ar- 


MACOMB 


113 


nved  at  Georgetown,  in  the  district  of  Columbia,  the 
20th  of  the  same  month.  Macomb  immediately  entered 
on  his  duties,  as  Chief  Engineer. 

Mr.  Calhoun  was,  now,  Head  of  the  War  Depart 
ment.  On  assuming  its  administration,  at  a  single 
glance  he  penetrated  its  recesses,  and  discerned  the  de 
fects  of  its  organization  ;  while,  with  a  logical  mind, 
analytical  and  synthetical,  he  applied,  with  pervading 
energy,  his  peculiar  powers  of  resolution  and  combina 
tion,  to  the  reformation  of  the  system.  Of  intuitive 
perception  ;  keen  in  investigation  ;  inflexible  in  purpose  ; 
with  a  penetration,  like  the  lightning's  shaft,  piercing 
and  rending ;  with  an  eagle  eye  that  can  look,  un- 
blenched,  upon  the  sun  ;  with  an  eagle  spirit  that  can 
wing  its  way  on  rays  of  light ;  it  might  have  been  ex 
pected  that  he  would  impart  a  fresh  impetus  to  all  ope 
rations  of  which  he  took  the  direction.  Accordingly, 
the  whole  department  heaved  and  quickened  with  the 
life  and  intelligence  he  breathed  into  it.  It  is  high 
praise,  therefore,  to  Macomb,  that,  by  the  conduct  of 
his  own  branch  of  that  Department,  he  gained  the 
marked  and  often  repeated  thanks  of  its  Head.  In  the 
opinion  of  Mr.  Calhoun,  the  Engineer  Bureau  was 
second,  in  importance,  only  to  the  Chief  Command  of 
the  Army.  The  nature  of  the  duties  incumbent  on  it 
were  so  important,  extensive,  and  complicated,  that  to 

10* 


114 


MEMOIR    OF 


insure  success  in  its  operations  required  great  vigilance, 
unrelaxing  industry,  and  a  practical  judgment,  for  the 
introduction  of  those  principles  of  method,  which 
would  effectuate  an  unity  and  efficiency  of  action,  a  just 
distribution  and  faithful  execution  of  official  tasks,  to 
g-ether  with  economy  and  accountability  in  public  ex 
penditure.  This  Bureau  embraced,  within  the  scope 
of  its  powers  and  duties,  not  only  the  fortifications  to 
be  constructed  for  the  defence  of  our  whole  seaboard 
and  inland  frontiers  ;  the  Military  Academy  ;  the  To 
pographical  explorations,  surveys,  and  drawings  :  but, 
also,  Internal  Improvements  by  roads  and  canals,  the 
deepening  of  Harbours,  the  creation  of  artificial  Ports, 
and  the  removal  of  obstructions  in  the  navigation  of 
our  great  Rivers.  From  the  confidence  reposed  in  its 
plans  and  estimates  for  these  noble  objects,  and  from  the 
general  ability  and  integrity  with  which  it  was  con 
ducted  by  Macomb,  Congress  felt  justified  in  placing 
the  most  liberal  appropriations  at  its  disposal.  The 
character  of  the  Engineer  Department  continued  to 
grow  in  the  public  estimation,  until  it  became  one  of 
the  most  important  and  useful  establishments  under  the 
Government.  The  system  of  operation  was  so  well 
methodized  and  defined,  and  the  accountability  so  se 
cured,  that,  during  Macomb's  administration  of  it.  in 
cluding  a  period  of  seven  years,  out  of  more  than  six 


MACOMB.  115 

millions  of  dollars  appropriated  to  the  objects  committed 
to  his  charge,  not  one  cent  was  unaccounted  for  or  lost 
to  the  people  of  the  United  States  !  This  fact,  alone, 
speaks  volumes.  It  is  superfluous  to  say,  that  such 
conduct  could  not  fail  to  receive  the  high  approbation 
as  well  of  the  Head  of  the  War  Department  and  of  the 
Chief  Executive,  as  of  the  Congress  and  the  Nation. 

In  the  first  year  of  his  residence  in  Georgetown,  by 
a  severe  dispensation  of  Providence,  he  was  bereaved 
of  his  amiable  and  excellent  Consort,  who,  in  giving 
birth  to  a  daughter,  fell  a  victim  to  the  causualities  of 
an  accouchement.  She  had  been  the  happy  mother  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  three  sons  and  six  daughters 
still  live  for  their  father.  Ardent  in  her  fidelity,  to  ac 
company  her  husband,  she  encountered  the  perils  of 
climate,  in  the  North  and  in  the  South,  and  of  travel 
by  land,  and  sea,  and  lake.  She  dared  the  hazards  of 
war,  in  camp  and  garrison  ;  and  found  a  shield  from 
all  dangers  and  sorrows  in  her  husband's  arms.  She 
was  endowed  with  an  elegant  mind,  and  possessed 
accomplished  manners.  Whom  her  beauty  captivated, 
her  intelligence  enchained.  She  adorned  the  polished 
circles  in  which  she  moved  ;  and,  among  a  numerous 
acquaintance,  had  the  rare  felicity  to  acquire  many  true 
and  affectionate  friends.  Her  favourite  province  was 
round  the  domestic  hearth,  where  she  presided,  mid 


116  MEMOIR    OF 

every  endearment,  with  the  household  gods  of  hospi 
tality,  friendship,  and  love.  With  a  happy  tact,  she 
successfully  exercised  her  talent  to  render  her  husband's 
home  the  abode  of  the  social  pleasures  and  affections, 
and  a  delightful  resort  for  the  stranger  guest,  the  ac 
quaintance,  and  the  friend. 

On  her  decease,  the  General  sent  for  his  aged  father 
and  mother,  then  residing  in  New-York,  and  who  had 
been  reduced  from  affluence  to  poverty.  He  received 
them  under  his  own  roof ;  and  subsequently  enjoyed 
the  satisfaction,  which  none  but  a  grateful  son  can  ap 
preciate,  of  discharging  in  some  degree  those  obliga 
tions,  which  can  never  be  entirely  cancelled,  of  filial 
iriety,  by  placing  them  in  a  situation  of  comfortable 
competency. 

The  events  of  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain,  and 
his  own  observation  and  experience,  had  turned  the  at 
tention  of  Macomb,  strongly,  to  the  subject  of  our 
Militia.  In  a  republic,  this  must  ever  be  the  right  arm 
of  its  defence — the  main  national  reliance.  When  the 
people  reluct  at  the  necessary  expense  of  time  and  toil 
to  preserve  themselves  in  a  state,  though  necessarily 
imperfect,  yet  still  a  state  of  military  organization  and 
discipline,  the  entire  Government,  for  all  purposes  of 
national  independence,  might  as  well  be  disbanded  at 
once :  we  shall  have  become  a  nation  of  Sybarites,  already 


MACOMB.  117 

conquered  by  our  own  imbecility :  we  shall  be  sold  by 
contract  to  the  highest  bidder ;  and  an  European  de 
tachment  be  sent  over  to  enforce  the  terms  of  sale  and 
take  possession,  unless  anticipated  by  domestic  merce 
nary  troops.  Corruption,  when  luxury  has  dissolved  a 
people  in  effeminacy,  is  the  enthanasia  of  a  republic  ; 
but  even  this  pitiful  privilege  cannot  be  our's :  for  the 
country  is  yet  too  young  to  be  corrupt,  though  it  is  old 
enough,  should  the  phenomenon  of  an  unarmed  nation 
exist  in  our  instance,  to  die  of  debility.  There  is  no 
succedaneum  for  a  militia,  an  efficient  militia.  The 
only  substitute  is  anarchy,  or  despotism.  To  prove  the 
practicability  of  such  a  militia,  and  to  point  out  the  best 
methods  of  accomplishing  so  vitally  important  an  ob 
ject,  Macomb  composed  a  most  able  and  elaborate  me 
moir,  filled  with  the  results  of  study,  sagacity,  and  ex 
perience, — which  has  been  published  among  the  docu 
ments  of  Congress.  His  plan  proposes  to  render  the 
Army,  Military  Academy,  and  Militia,  harmoniously 
co-operative — to  infuse  the  spirit,  tactics,  and  science,  of 
the  Army  and  Academy,  to  a  certain  extent,  into  the 
body  of  the  Militia ;  yet  without  detracting  from  the 
entirety  of  the  Army,  or  incurring  a  great  national  ex 
penditure.  Some  such  measure  would  be  economy  as 
well  as  efficiency  in  war,  and  safety  in  peace.  It  is 
patriotism-  It  is  national  existence, 


118  MEMOIR   OF 

The  science  of  war  has  not  been  Macomb's  only 
study.  He  delighted  in  agriculture.  He  made  many 
practical  experiments  on  implements  of  husbandry,  and 
especially  tried  the  properties  of  the  plough,  on  which 
subject  he  made  a  Report,  while  in  the  Engineer  De 
partment.  Among  his  contributions  to  agricultural 
works,  was  an  Essay,  published  in  the  American 
Farmer,  accompanied  with  plans  and  drawings,  illus 
trative  of  the  art  of  building  with  the  composition  of 
Tapia.  The  varied  productions  of  his  pen.  his  general 
orders,  official  reports,  agricultural  communications, 
and  miscellaneous  correspondence,  bear  the  impress  of 
an  active,  ingenious,  strong,  and  scientific  mind. 
Though,  in  the  pressure  of  business,  his  pen  may 
sometimes  be  hasty,  yet  all  his  papers  are  substantially 
well  written,  and  many  of  them  with  surpassing  felici 
ty,  which  have  justly  obtained  marked  public  encomium. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1826,  General  Macomb  mar 
ried  Mrs.  Harriet  Balch  Wilson,  a  widow  lady,  daugh 
ter  of  the  Reverend  Doctor  Balch,  Pastor  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church  in  Georgetown,  in  the  District  of  Co 
lumbia.  Respect  for  the  sensitive  delicacy  of  her  feel 
ings  forbids,  while  living,  the  eulogy  she  richly  merits  ; 
and  distant  be  the  day  when  urn  or  stone  shall  speak 
of  her ! 

On  the  death  of  Major  General  Brown,   General  in 


MACOMB.  119 

Chief  of  the  Army,  a  question  arose,  as  to  his  successor. 
Different  views  were  entertained,  by  the  various  com 
petitors  for  the  station,  in  regard  to  their  respective 
claims  and  pretensions.  Among  the  higher  officers  of 
the  army,  o'ifTerent  constructions  were  given  to  the  rules 
of  relative  rank — some  claiming  precedence  from 
commissions  in  the  line,  others  from  brevets  conferred 
for  gallant  and  meretorious  actions.  The  unsettled 
state,  in  which  this  question  of  rank  had  been  left  by 
the  Government  since  the  wrar.  might  well  be  expected 
to  prove  an  apple  of  discord  ;  for  honour,  power,  and 
emolument,  were  in  the  issue.  The  Executive  viewed 
the  appointment  to  the  chief  command  of  the  Army, 
as  a  matter  of  free  selection,  even  beyond  the  pale  of 
the  army.  It  was  thought  that  this  liberty  on  the  part 
of  the  Government  was  approved  by  principles  of  pub 
lic  policy,  and  not  interdicted  by  any  provision  of  the 
law.  Macomb,  reluctant  to  enter  the  arena  of  conten 
tion  for  rank  and  command  in  time  of  peace,  was  as 
siduously  engaged  in  his  duties  of  Chief  Engineer. 
Yet,  in  justice  to  himself,  he  conceived  it  a  duty  to  lay 
before  the  President,  a  simple  statement  of  his  own 
claims  and  pretensions,  founded  on  long  and  faithful 
services,  on  seniority  in  his  rank  of  Brigadier,  and  on 
the  faith  of  Government  which  had  been  formerly 
pledged  to  him  by  the  Executive,  that  his  right  of  pro- 


120  MEMOIR  OF 

motion  should  not  be  infringed  by  his  arrangement  to 
the  Engineer  Department.  From  the  position  which 
Macomb  occupied,  as  Head  of  that  Department,  he  had 
not,  since  he  quitted  his  command  on  the  Canadian 
frontier,  been  before  the  public  eye,  in  the  capacity  of  a 
military  commander ;  but  was  rather  regarded  as  a  la 
bourer  for  the  public  benefit  in  the  occupations  of  peace — 
in  preparing  the  country  for  a  state  of  war — in  fortifying 
our  seaboard — in  superintending  the  educaticn  of  the 
adopted  sons  of  the  republic  at  the  Military  Academy— 
in  facilitating  intercourse  between  the  several  States,  by 
good  roads  and  canals — in  improving  the  navigation  of 
our  principal  rivers — in  a  word,  in  devoting  his  whole 
mind  and  time  to  strengthen  the  union,  to  render  the  na 
tion  prosperous  in  peace,  and  in  war  invincible.  The  Pre 
sident,  after  weighing  the  various  titles  to  the  vacated 
post,  decided  in  favour  of  Macomb,  and  nominated  him 
accordingly  to  the  Senate.  That  august  body  con 
firmed  the  nomination  by  a  great  majority  ;  and  Alex 
ander  Macomb  became  General  in  Chief  of  the  Ameri 
can  Army.  Disputes  of  precedence,  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
will  no  more  disturb  the  harmony  of  the  service.  Our 
present  Chief  Magistrate,  with  characteristic  prompti 
tude,  as  soon  as  the  question  was  presented  to  his  view, 
confirmed  the  decision  of  the  learned  Adams,  and  de 
stroyed  every  germ  of  future  contention.  Highly  ho- 


MACOMB.  121 

nourable  to  Macomb  is  such  a  testimony  from  him,  whose 
claim  to  the  title  of  The  Great  Captain  of  the  Age 
has  been  vindicated  by  the  crowning  victory  of  New- 
Orleans,  when  the  unanimous  acclaim  of  a  grateful 
nation  awarded  him  the  verdant  palm,  which  envy 
cannot  blanch,  nor  detraction  tear  away.  Years  will  feed 
its  verdure,  until  the  name  of  Orleans  be  erased  from 
the  historic  tablet,  and  the  Father  of  Rivers  cease  to  flow. 
While  Major  General  Macomb  has  resided  at  the 
seat  of  the  National  Government,  in  the  command  of 
the  Army,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that,  by  his  con 
ciliatory  deportment,  by  his  exemplary  morals,  by  his 
tact  and  talent,  and  energetic  discharge  of  his  functions, 
by  his  familiar  acquaintance  with  all  the  details  of  ser 
vice  and  with  the  duties  of  every  post  and  corps,  he 
has  raised  yet  higher  the  reputation  of  the  Army,  dif 
fused  still  more  widely  a  spirit  of  emulation,  promoted 
concord,  and  increased  the  efficiency  of  every  arm. 
Fortunately,  too,  he  has  been  favoured  with  the  co 
operation  of  able  auxiliaries  in  his  military  adminis 
tration.  It  is  the  peculiarity  of  great  men  to  at 
tach  men,  of  similar  character,  to  their  person  or  ser 
vice.  If  a  chief  be  austere  of  disposition,  repulsive  of 
manners,  degraded  by  ignorance,  or  debased  by  vice, 
those  whose  souls  are  of  a  lofty  mould  fly  to  distant 
stations — they  instinctively  shun  contact  with  one 
10 


122  MEMOIR    OF 

whom  power  cannot  dignify,  nor  virtue  adorn,  nor 
rank  elevate  ;  but  around  him  who,  by  mind,  manners, 
and  disposition,  as  well  as  by  official  authority,  can 
operate,  as  a  centre  of  attraction,  a  focus  of  intelligence, 
kindred  spirits  love  to  cluster.  Macomb  is  surrounded 
by  a  military  cabinet  of  distinguished  ability — a  Staff 
which  would  honour  any  European  service.  Of  some 
of  these  individuals,  the  writer  may  be  permitted  to 
speak  from  personal  knowledge. 

Adjutant  General  Jones,  formerly  a  Captain  in 
Macomb's  Artillery,  is,  as  his  present  title  imports,  the 
immediate  representative  of  his  General  in  Chief — the 
Head  of  the  General  Staff.  He  is  "  every  inch"  a  sol 
dier.  Like  the  war-horse,  he  loves  the  music  of  \var  ; 
and  is  most  delighted,  when  careering  on  the  battle 
field,  winning,  as  he  has  often  won,  the  medals  of  va 
lour,  from  the  vanquished  prowess  of  the  foe,  and  the 
applauding  gratitude  of  his  country.  He  is  now,  in 
Peace,  assiduously  employing  all  his  powers  of  mind 
and  body  in  the  comprehensive  duties  of  his  Bureau, 
which  embrace,  at  the  same  time,  the  minutest  detail 
and  the  entire  economy  of  the  Army — honouring,  as 
he  is  honoured  by,  the  Profession  he  serves. 

At  the  Head  of  the  Ordnance  Department  stands 
Colonel  Bomford — an  original  genius  and  a  scientific 
scholar,  in  the  broadest  and  highest  import  of  those 


MAC  OMB,  123 

lerms — devoting,  with  patriotic  disinterestedness,  those 
talents  and  that  science  to  the  military  service,  which 
he  is  bound,  by  even  a  higher  duty,  to  dedicate  to  the 
service  of  mankind:  He  is  the  rare  ornament  of  an 
age — at  once  profound  and  practical — uniting,  to  almost 
juvenile  simplicity  of  manners,  the  maturest  wisdom  of 
philosophy. 

Over  the  Quarter  Master  General's  Department  pre 
sides  General  Jesup,  whose  life  is  an  unbroken  series 
of  heroic  and  successful  exertions  in  war  and  peace. 
After  disbursing  millions  of  the  public  treasure  for  works 
of  national  defence,  he  is  probably  as  poor,  and  certainly 
as  pure,  as  Curius  ;  yet  all  his  personal  virtues  and 
pre-eminent  public  services  are  unfortunately  obscured 
by  a  pervading  fault,  which  his  enemies,  if  there  be 
such,  would  call  reserve,  but  which  his  friends  denomi 
nate  modesty.  He  would  not  lift  his  finger  or  wink  his 
eye,  to  secure  the  brightest  blazonry  to  his  merits  :  He 
goes  to  no  office  of  heraldry  for  his  escutcheon :  He 
asks  no  coronet  for  his  coat-of-arms :  He  has  acted 
for  his  country,  and  before  his  country  ;  and,  if  inter 
rogated,  might  meekly,  but  with  a  noble  pride,  point 
to  that  country's  archives. 

In  reviewing  this  biographical  sketch  of  Major  Ge 
neral  Macomb,  it  is  singular  and  gratifying  to  see  him 
mounting,  in  regular  progression,  from  the  lowest  to 


MEMOIR   OF 

the  highest  point  of  his  Profession — no  halting — no  re- 
trogradation — his  march  ever  forward  on  an  ascending 
plane.  -During  an  uninterrupted  service  for  a  period  of 
more  than  thirty-three  years,  in  every  variety  of  station, 
employment,  and  circumstance,  surrounded  too  by  offi 
cers  who  were  straining  in  the  same  race  of  competition, 
the  most  generous  natures  sometimes  forgetting  the  spi 
rit  of  the  soldier  in  the  natural  emotions  of  jealousy, 
that  Macomb  should  have  escaped  a  single  arrest  or 
serious  embarrasment,  is  of  itself  a  peculiar  fortune. 
We  behold  him,  while  yet  a  boy,  the  protege  of  Ha 
milton,  on  his  recommendation  commissioned  by  Wash 
ington,  a  Cornet  of  Dragoons — we  view  him,  while 
still  a  youth,  the  associate  and  friend  as  well  as  pupil 
of  North  and  Williams,  and  Davie  and  Pinckney — we 
see  him  attracting  the  attention  and  winning  the  ap 
plause  of  Jefferson,  enjoying  the  confidence  and  sup 
port  of  every  successive  President  and  Secretary  of 
War,  and  especially  honoured  by  the  friendship  of 
such  men  as  Armstrong,  Crawford,  and  Calhoun, 
who,  however  contrariant  in  their  creeds  and  cha 
racters,  must  be  acknowledged  to  possess  the  faculty 
of  discrimination.  And  we  now  contemplate  him, 
after  so  long  a  tour  of  faithful,  conspicuous,  and  suc 
cessful  services,  at  the  Head  of  the  Army  of  the  Ameri 
can  Republic  ! 

There  is  a  novelty  about  the  scenes  and  incidents 


MACOMB, 


125 


of  Macomb's  life  that  grapples  attention,  and  carries 
the  reader  along  with  them.  To  impart  to  them  their 
true  charm,  to  invest  them  with  a  halo  of  romantic  re 
splendence,  throw  them,  in  imagination,  one  thousand 
years  back — then  say,  as  the  truth  of  his  biography 
will  warrant  us  in  saying,  that  a  stripling  of  the  wilder 
ness  (for  at  the  time  of  Macomb's  birth,  Detroit  ^was  a 
part  of  our  western  wilds,)  emerging  from  the  forests, 
and  passing  victoriously,  for  many  years,  through  ap 
pointed  trials  and  labours  of  no  ordinary  occurrence, 
magnitude,  and  difficulty,  rushed  forward,  and.  not  by 
the  mere  exertion  of  the  brute  force  of  an  overwhelming 
army,  but  by  the  display  of  the  loftiest  virtues  and 
controlling  powers,  and  by  the  united  voices  of  his  coun 
trymen,  seated  himself,  amid  illustrious  competitors, 
in  the  chief  command  of  the  military  forces  of  his 
country  !  This  is  the  point  of  view  in  which  TIME 
will  place  the  picture  of  Macomb :  This  is  the  light  in 
which  Posterity  will  look  back  upon  it.  What,  in  com 
parison,  are  the  ferocious  exploits  of  the  boasted  demi 
gods  of  antiquity,  which  excite  our  school-boy  wonder 
and  admiration  ?  The  wars  they  waged  on  the  side 
of  cruelty  and  violence,  oppression  and  despotism,  Ma- 
comb  waged  on  the  side  of  virtue  and  humanity,  of 
liberty  and  law,  his  country's  soil,  and  his  country's 
institutions. 

11* 


126 


MEMOIR    OF 


The  traits  of  General  Macomb's  military  character 
are  sufficiently  developed  and  illustrated  by  his  profes 
sional  career.  Almost  cradled  in  the  camp — with  his 
maturer  years  ripened  in  field  and  fortress — familiar 
with  the  details  of  service — instructed  in  the  manoeuvres 
of  battle — competent  to  the  comprehensive  combinations 
of  a  campaign — master  of  all  the  enginery  of  war — 
witli  tried  valour  and  experienced  talent — and  crowned 
with  success  in  the  most  signal  exploits — he  may  well 
be  esteemed  an  ornament  of  his  profession,  not  more 
elevated  by  rank  than  merit ;  but  rather  as  one  whose 
merit  elevates  his  rank,  and  confers  dignity  on  office. 
A  distinctive  feature  of  his  military  character  is  the 
respectful  disposition  manifested  by  him,  wherever  sta 
tioned,  to  the  civil  administration.  No  functionary  or 
citizen  can  ever  have  complained  that  Macomb  infracted 
his  rights,  or  impaired  his  interests  ;  or  indeed  that  he 
failed  to  exert  his  every  faculty  for  the  promotion  of  the 
general  weal  and  individual  happiness,  for  the  support 
of  law,  defence  of  justice,  and  protection  of  innocence 
In  our  country  the  sword  is  as  much  the  emblem  of 
justice,  as  the  weapon  of  defence :  and,  while  the 
soldier  equally  participates  in  the  benefits  of  the  Law, 
he  also  shares  equally  in  the  disastrous  effects  of  its 
prostration. 

In  his  person,  General  Macomb  is  above  the  ordinary 


MACOMB.  127 

height,  being  five  feet,  nine  and  a  half  inches — finely 
proportioned — with  a  round  swelling  chest — having  a 
very  pleasant,  and  yet  dignified  presence.  His  face  has 
the  oval  contour — with  a  lofty  forehead — a  mild  blue 
eye,  radiating  with  mind  and  benevolence — and  a  mouth 
and  chin  indicative  of  great  decision  and  firmness. 
The  fault  of  his  countenance  is  an  air  of  youthfulness, 
which,  should  he  live,  he  will  probably  rectify  !  Often, 
on  an  introduction  to  strangers,  he  has  been  asked,  if 
he  was  the  Son  of  the  old  General.  He  is  alert  in  his 
motions,  and  buoyant  in  his  spirits  which  are  uniform 
ly  in  a  genial  flow.  The  secret  of  this  fine  health  lies 
in  an  originally  good  constitution,  confirmed  by  early 
toil,  fatigue,  and  hardy  exercise  ;  and  since  preserved 
by  a  temperance,  which  never  admits  the  use  of  alco 
holic  stimulus. 

The  manners  of  Macomb,  entirely  free  and  natural, 
are  yet  elegant  and  polished,  as  might  be  expected  of 
a  soldier  bred  in  courts  and  camps  ;  but  they  are,  also, 
in  a  peculiar  manner,  ingratiating.  You  feel,  from  the 
impression  they  make  on  you,  the  goodness  of  his  heart ; 
and,  when  you  catch  his  countenance,  you  find  the 
impression  confirmed.  His  conversation,  too,  though 
marked  with  his  characteristic  good  sense  and  sound 
learning,  is,  like  his  manners,  full  of  vivacity  and  fire. 
It  will  sometimes  burst  out  into  bold,  original  concep- 


128 


MEMOIR    OF 


lions,  suggested  at  the  moment,  and  strongly  presented  ; 
but  it  generally  Hows  on,  like  a  clear,  sparkling  stream 
— full  of  wit,  and  humour,  and  an  inexhaustible  fund 
of  anecdote. 

In  both  the  manners  and  conversation  of  Macomb 
the  maternal  blood  seems  to  predominate  j  and  yet.  to 
hit  the  true  composition  of  his  character,  with  the  ex 
ternal  animation  and  literary  penchant  of  the  French 
model,  should  be  blended  and  softened  a  certain  arden 
cy  of  temperament,  a  cordial  enthusiasm,  of  the  Irish. 
The  dignity  which  Macomb  possesses,  is  in  substance, 
not  in  form.  That  artificial  dignity  which  stands  upon 
stilts,  which  depends  upon  staid  looks,  formalities,  and 
a  cold,  haughty  reserve,  he  whistles  to  the  winds  :  or 
gives  it,  as  crutches  are  given,  to  the  feeble.  For  him 
self,  he  fears  no  exposure — is  not  afraid  to  be  known — 
relies  upon  himself — is  as  willing  to  meet  the  rencount- 
ter  of  minds,  as  of  arms — and  feels  no  necessity  of  en 
sconcing  behind  the  palisades  and  entrenchments  of  eti 
quette.  Advantage  might,  sometimes,  be  taken  of  this 
freedom  and  openness,  were  it  not  for  the  natural 
guards  of  his  shrewdness  and  penetration  of  character. 
Superficial  judges,  who  think  gravity  (notwithstand 
ing  it  is  proverbially  a  cover-fool)  synonymous  with 
weight  of  character  and  solidity  of  judgment,  draw  un 
favourable  conclusions,  as  to  his  stability  ;  because  they 


MACOMB. 

cannot  understand  the  depth  of  his  reasoning,  nor  per 
ceive  the  brilliancy  of  his  wit,  though  they  can  see. 
with  their  bodily  eyes,  that  he  is  cheerful  and  sprightly. 

As  a  man,  he  is  not  less  amiable  and  estimable,  than, 
as  a  public  officer,  illustrious.  The  private  and  social 
relations  of  life  are  hallowed  in  his  example.  In  the 
various  capacities  of  husband  and  son,  father,  friend, 
and  citizen,  he  practically  exhibits  the  virtues  which 
adorn  them.  With  the  kindest  sympathy,  he  mingles 
in  the  sorrows  of  the  afflicted  ;  or,  with  cordial  congra 
tulation,  rejoices  with  the  fortunate  and  happy. 

Clear  and  quick  in  his  perceptions — abundant  in  re 
sources — fertile  and  ingenious  in  speculation — prompt, 
bold,  persevering,  and  powerful  in  action — with  an  he 
roic  daring  which  danger  but  stimulates,  sustained  by 
a  constancy  of  nerve  and  will  which  obstacles  but  con 
firm — who,  in  a  trying  exigency  of  our  national  ex 
istence,  fearlessly  assumed  a  most  perilous  responsibility, 
and,  under  Providence,  by  the  exertion  of  transcendant 
capacity,  saved  his  country  from  the  devastation  of  pro 
tracted  war — with  a  philanthropy  which  knows  no  per 
sonal  enemy,  and  deserves  none — with  a  generosity 
limited  only  by  his  means — with  an  humanity  alike  con 
spicuous  on  the  battle-plain  when  victory  is  won,  and 
in  the  circles  of  private  life — with  a  proud  frankness 
which  wears  no  disguise,  and  spurns  the  meanness  of 


130  MEMOIR,    &C. 

dissimulation — and, — a  pre-eminent  praise. — ardent 
and  faithful  in  his  friendships — our  respect  and  love, 
admiration  and  gratitude,  must  ever  attach  to  the  cha 
racter  of  ALEXANDER  MACOMB. 


THE    END, 


At  the  request  of  the  Publishers,  the  Author  has  it  in  contempla 
tion  soon  to  issue  an  octavo  edition,  in  which  the  principal  passages 
of  this  biography  will  be  illustrated  by  documents,  either  interwoven 
in  the  text,  or  annexed  as  an  appendix — together  with  detailed  de 
scriptions  of  actions  merely  glanced  at  in  this  edition. 


VALUABLE    WORKS 

LATELY  PL-BUSHED   AND  FOR  SALS  BY 

M'ELRATH    &    BANGS. 

85  CHATHAM-STREET,  NEW-YORK, 


THE  MOSAIC  HISTORY  OF  THE  CREATION  OF  THE 
WpRLD  ILLUSTRATED;  By  discoveries  and  experiments 
derived  from  the  present  enlightened  state  of  science ;  with  reflec 
tions  intended  to  promote  vital  and  practical  religion.  By  Thoma* 
Wood,  A.  M.  Revised  and  improved  by  the  Rev.  John  P.  Dur- 
bin,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Languages,  Augusta  College,  Kentucky. 
1  vol.  8vo. 

Tnls  volume  is  a  learned  and  most  interesting  commentary  on  the  Mosaic  ac 
count  of  the  creation  :  comprehending  all  the  light  that  criticism,  history,  philoso 
phy  and  modern  discoveries  have  thrown  on  the  inspired  narrative  of  the  mysteri 
ous  production  of  this  globe  and  all  it  inherits,  with  that  most  wonderful' of  ita 
inhabitants,  man.  It  ought  to  he  read  by  all  who  take  an  interest  in  matters,  of 
which,  the  nature  and  constitution  of  the  planet  they  are  born  on,  the  elements 
they  live  in,  and  the  whole  range  of  physical  philosophy,  as  subjects  proper  to  b« 
understood  by  those  professing  to  b<?  cducatf  d.-—  Cnmirf'rcial  Mrcrtisrr. 

One  pre-eminent  excellence  of  the  work  is,  that  Religion  is  hot  made  to  do  obei 
FBnce  to  science,  or  reason,  but  merely  accepts  their  hand-maid  services,  in  com 
mending  her  pleasant  ways,  to  the  judgment  and  conscience  of  captious  men. — Bap- 
titt  Repository. 

Mr.  Wood  describes  the  birth  of  the  elements  in  language  that  kindles  over  the 
grandeur  of  creation.  The  work  is  replete  with  the  accounts  offsets  initiative 
of  the  power  of  the  elemental  principles  of  natural  science.  We  heartily  advise 
every  reader  of  our  sheet  to  place  the  Mosaic  History  on  the  shelves  of  his  library. 
— Badger' s  Messenger. 

Its  subject  is  one  of  absorbing  interest,  treated  in  a  manner  deserving  the  highest 
encomium  we  can  bestow. — (.'ovrierfr  Enqyirtr. 

This  is  a  most  interesting  book,  and  it  is  as  useful  as  it  is  interesting.  How 
much  belter  is  it  for  the  searcher  after  truth  to  read  his  bible  in  connexion  with 
works  of  this  kind,  than  to  confine  himself  to  the  speculations  of  the  bigot,  or  the 
d  reams  of  the  enthusiast.  We  hope  that  this  ably  written  treatise  will  receive 
the  attPiition  it  merits.—  Christian  Intclligrncrr. 

We  have  not  yet  given  it  a  thorough  perusal,  but  we  have  read  enough  to  en 
gage  our  attention,  and  to  wish  that  it  was  twice  as  long  as  it  is.—  Utica  Eluct 
datcr. 

To  clergymen  and  other?  whose  libraries  are  small,  it  will  be  especially  useful , 
for  it  embraces  almostthe  wholecircle  of  the  Natural  Sciences,  and  contains  much 
valuable  theology. --Kptffopcl  Jf~atchman. 

It  is  with  peculiar  pleasure  that  we  welcome  from  the  press,  5uch  works  as  the 
one  before  us,  in  which  we  are  called  to  view  with  rational  and  enlightened  sci 
enre,  the  lUlpcadkHM  fabric  of  creation  as  evidencing  a  "marvellous  display  of  Om 
nipot«ur«"  awiuingus  of  th«  Divine  existence.—  f 'Jtrittinx  Wtlthman. 


DISCOURSES  ON  VARIOUS  SUBJECTS,  relative  to  the 
Being  and  Attributes  of  God,  and  his  works  in  Creation,  Provi 
dence,  and  Grace.  By  ADAM  CLARKE,  LL.D.  F.A.S.  &c.  &c.,  2 
vols.  8vo. — Handsomely  bound,  with  double  title,  with  a  superior 
portrait  of  Dr.  Clarke,  engraved  in  the  best  manner  upon  steel. 

In  those  sermons  that  are  now  before  us,  there  is  a  depth  of  penetration,  an  ac 
fineness  of  research,  mid  a  vigorous  range  of  thought,  which,  in  modern  discour 
ses,  we  but  rarely  find.  These  are  accompanied  with  such  a  warmth  of  devotional 
feeling,  such  a  rich  vein  of  piety,  and  such  a  strong  regard  to  the  fundamental  doc 
trines  of  the  gospel,  as  greatly  to  enhance  their  value.  AH  this,  however,  was  ex 
pected  from  the  author's  well-known  talents,  and  literary  character  ;  and  few,  we 
believe,  will  complain  of  disappointment. — Imperial  Magazine. 

The  venerable  author  of  these  sermons,  has  for  many  years  ranked  among  the 
most  eminent  ministers  of  the  present  age;  and  we  are  glad  that  he  has  been  pre 
vailed  upon  to  commit  to  the  press  these  specimens  of  his  instructive  and  energetic 
preaching.  Possessed  of  a  strength  of  mind  far  greater  than  that  which  falls  to  the 
lot  of  ordinary  men,  and  extensively  acquainted  with  Oriental  literature,  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Accus 
tomed  to  weigh  their  phraseology,  to  investigate  their  rights  and  ceremonies,  th« 
arts  and  sciences,  the  historical  facts  and  characters,  to  which  reference  ii 
made  in  the  inspired  records,  lie  is  eminently  qualified  to  throw  light  on  their  aa- 
cred  contents.  *  *  * 

Some  of  the  discourses  are  of  considerable  length,  and  of  great  value.  For  com 
prehension  of  thought,  clear  and  forcible  argumentation,  and  profound  views  of 
JDivine  truth,  some  of  them  are  equal  to  the  best  sermons  of  Farindon,  Barrow, 
or  South  ;  but  on  the  subject  of  personal  godliness,  they  are  incomparably  superior 
to  any  thing  that  those  eminent  Divines  and  preachers  ever  wrote.  We  know  of 
no  Sermons  in  which  so  much  learning  is  brought  to  bear  upon  the  all-important 
•abject  Of  experimental  religion.—  fVcsleyman  Methodist  Magazine. 

LIFE  OF  PATRICK  HENRY,  by  WILLIAM  WIRT,  Esa.  Fourth 
revised  edition,  with  a  portrait  of  Patrick  Henry.  1  vol.  8vo. 

WirCs  Life  of  Henry. — No  man  living  was  better  fitted  than  the  Hon.  William 
Wirt,  to  write  the  life  of  Patrick  Henry.  No  son  could  have  illustrated  and  sought 
«ntt  amidst  the  discordant  elements  of  faction  and  misrepresentation,  the  noble 
(rails  of  a  father's  character  more  faithfully,  and  more  in  the  spirit  of  filial  love, 
than  Wirt  has  done  in  the  case  of  Henry.  It  is  indeed,  a  wonder  that  a  splendid 
edition  of  this  work  has  never  before  been  presented  to  the  American  public,  ns 
all  the  former  editions  have  made  but  an  indillerent  appearance.  This  admirable 
volume  should  be  found  in  every  American  Library. — Kadrrcr's  Mrsscngcr. 

<>f  lh«  merits  of  this  work,  which  ranks  amon<!  the  American  classics,  it  is  su 
pertluons  to  speak.  Few  American  biographies,  if  any,  have  been  more  popn 
lar,  and  it  deserves  the  popularity  it  has  attained  as  well  on  account  of  its  literary 
merits,  as  for  the  interesting  character  of  the  illustrious  individual  whose  fame  it 
records. — Commercial  Advertiser. 

MEMOIRS  of  the  LIFE  and  MINISTRY  of  the  Rev.  JOHN 
SUMMERFIELD,  A.  M.;  late  a  preacher  in  connexion  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  America.  By  JOHN  HOLLAND. 
With  an  introductory  Letter,  by  JAMES  MONTGOMERY. 

A  fervent,  fearless,  s-elf-sncrifit  ing  preacher,  the  delight  of  wondering,  weeping 
and  admiring  audiences,  wherever  he  went.— Montgomery. 

1  have  read  the  life  of  the  Kev.  John  Stimmerfield  with  great  satisfaction.  It  it 
a  very  interesting  record,  and  F  trust  will  promote  the  interests  of  our  common 
Christianity,  of  which  Mr.  J?.  was  so  bright  an  ornament;  and  so  happy  an  exam 
ple  of  the  union  of  zeal  with  Catholicism  and  of  talents  with  humility. — Prnfettor 
SMiman  of  Yale  College. 

Life  of  Summerficla.—Wv  have  been  rr.-ulinji  with  mm  Ii  satWactlon  the  Me 
moirs  of  this  popular  and  devoted  young  minister.  The  book  exhibits  a  specimen 
«f  Biography  aa  beautiful  find  finished  as  simplicity,  purity,  and  force  of  style, 
united  to  richness  amlthnsU'iie^of  ornament,  «an  well  make  it,  and  the  material! 


are  int.' reeling  and  iuttriictire-  -and  what  is  no  sm.ili  praise,  it  i*  laudably  purged 
ut'lijwotry  and  *'Ctariam- in  Dutch  litfurmtd  ,)/nira:i/if. 

Thi*  is  a  work  of rnre  excellent -c.  \\Y  speak  not  now  of  its  literary  merit.  We 
upeak  of  a  higher  quality.  It  is  Hie  simple  ami  touching  story  of  one  who,  for  a 
few  brief  years,  livi  tl  aiid  labored  and  suffered  among  us  in  the  cause  of  Christ, 
an./  was  not,  for  (foil  took  him.  It  is  one  of  those  few  books  \vliirh  we  read  with 
heart*  full  of :  thankfulness  to  (Jod— and  we  have  received  mnrh  advantage  and 
much  pleasure  from  this  book,  ami  recommend  it  to  our  readers.—  Theological  Ke 
pt  rtory. 

The  volume  will  he  sought  after  with  avidity,  and  road  hy  thousands  with  plea 
sure,  although  they  may  not  have  seen  him  ;  hut  to  those  who  knew  him  as  he  liv 
ed,  and  read  how  he  died,  it  will  he  a  treasure  with  which  they  will  not  readily 
part — .Mercantile  *ldccrtiser. 

VILLAGE  SERMONS;  One  Hundred  and  One  Plain  and  Short 
Discourses,  on  the  principle  doctrines  of  the  Gospel ;  intended  for 
the  use  of  families,  Sunday  Schools,  or  companies  assembled  for  re 
ligious  instruction,  in  country  villages,  by  GEORGE  BURDEH.  To 
which  is  added,  to  each  sermon,  a  short  prayer,  with  some  general 
prayers  for  !io< >!.-?,  &e.  I  vol.  8vo. 

ft  Come,  let  us  go  forth  into  the  Held ;  let  us  lodge  in  t 

SOLOMON. 

This  work  is  got  up  in  the  very  best  style,  as  regards  the  quality 
of  the  paper,  the  correctness  and  beauty  of  the  printing,  or  the 
neatness  and  durability  of  the  binding.  As  the  work  is  so  gene 
rally  known,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  anv  thing  in  its  commenda 
tion. 

THE  COURSE  OF  TIME,  a  Poem,  by  ROBERT  POLLOK,  A.  M., 
with  a  memoir  of  the  Author,  an  introductory  notice,  a  copious  in 
dex,  and  an  analysis  prefixed  to  each  book,  by  N.  W.  FISK,  of  Am- 
herst  College.  1  vol.  18mo.— Pnce  37$  cts." 

Tin-  Memoir  of  the  Author,  Introductory  Notice,  Index,  and  Analysis,  prepared 
for  this  work  hy  Mr.  Fi.-k.  have  considerably  enhanced  the  valueof  the  book,  and 

.1  this  edition  the  most  popular  of  any  in  the  market. 

Persons  wishing  to  procure  this  edition  will  please  to  inquire  for  Pollok'i 
Course  of  Time  with  F/.<  i' »•  improvements.  It  ean  be  obtained  at  almost  any  book 
More  in  the  United  States. 

THE  HISTORY  OF  SANFORD  AND  MERTON,  by  THO 
MAS  DAY,  Esq.  Revised  by  the  Author  of  American  Popular  Les 
sons.  Handsomely  printed  on  fine  paper,  and  illustrated  with  three 
wood  engravings.  1  vol.  ISmo. 

"The  history  of  Sanford  and  Merlon,  written  fifty  years  ago,  is  at  this  moment 
the  most  interesting  and  edifying  of  children's  books  :  highly  entertainiii'j,  exhibit 
ing  the  best  examples,  inculcating  a  virtuous  conduct,  the  right  use  of  reason,  just 
moral  principles  and  useful  truth  in  regard  to  physical  nature,  all  in  the  most  in 
telligible  and  attractive  mnunei." 

ZION  SONGSTER  ;  a  Collection  of  Hymns  and  Spiritual  Songs, 
generally  sung  :it  Tamp  and  Prayer  Meetings,  and  in  revivals  of 
religion.  Compiled  by  I'KTKR  I).  MVKRS;  with  a  copperplate  fron 
tispiece,  and  \ignette  titlepage. — 37  1-2  cents. 

"  This  work  comprises  some  of  the  best  Hymns  of  Mishap  Ileher,  Montgomery, 
and  other  modern  |*>eis,  as  well  as  all  those  in  general  use  at  Camp  Meetings,  &c. 
Itis  believed  lo  be  alM>  le-sohi  •cliunableon  the  mound  of  doggerel,  than  most  oth 
ers  published  for  th"  ,-ame  purposes.  "  Printed  on  line  paper  and  neatly  ln.iind 

THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE,  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  and  Washington's  Farewell  Address  to  the 
People  of  the  United  States ;  in  1  vol.  ISmo. — .price  25  cents. 


GOLDEN  TREASURY;  consisting  of  select  texts  of  the  Bible, 
with  Practical  Observations,  in  prose  and  verse,  tor  every  day  in 
the  year.  By  C.  H.  V.  BOGATSKF.  Together  with  a  few  forms 
of  prayer,  for  private  use.  388  pp.  18mo.— price  50  cents. 

THE  BIBLE  STORY  BOOK ;    taken  from  the  Old  and  New 

Testaments;  for  the  use  of  Children.  From  the  English  edition. 
Correct.!  and  enlarged  by  the  Author  of  American  Popular  Les 
sons,  la  two  volumes.  The  first  volume,  containing  narratives 
from  th*>  Old  Testament,  is  illustrated  by  40  beautiful  wood  cut», 
and  tha  second  volume,  (on  the  New  Testament,)  by  32  wood  cuts. 

"  The  BiMft  Story  Book  was  originally  an  English  publication.  It  contains 
brief  and  intHligible  narratives  of  facts  related  iti  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 
These  narratives  are  intermixed  with  moral  and  religious  applications,  such  as  all 
children  can  understand,  aad  such  as  can  oft'end  no  religious  denomination.  " 

INTRODUCTION  TO  POPULAR  LESSONS ;  by  the  Author 
of  A-rvrican  Popular  Lessons,  with  numerous  cuts;  designed  as  a 
reading  book  for  Young  Children. — price  25  cents. 

This  liitle  book  was  prepared  expressly  for  the  list;  of  small  children  just  learn 
ing  to  read,  and  is  intended  as  a  first  reading  book  in  schools.  With  a  view  M 
this  it  is  printed  on  a  very  large  and  handsome  type.  ;ind  made  interesting  to  the 
child,  as  well  by  its  simplicity  of  style,  a-?  its  being  filled  with  cuts  or  pictures.  It 
has  been  extensively  introduced  into  schools,  and  is  found  to  give  perfect  satisfac 
tion. 

la  teaching  young  children  to  read,  I  have  felt  the  want  of  a  popular  book  that 
should  teach  them  to  think  also.  Until  teachers  or  parents  examine  all  the  ele 
mentary  books  used  by  their  pupils,  until  they  have  the  ability  to  distinguish 
which  are  the  best,  and  the  Independence  to  use  those  which  are  adapted  to  un 
practised  ahd  unfurnished  minds,  it  will  be  ol  small  use  to  write  good  school 
l*>oks ;  and  until  better  ones  than  many  of  those  in  present  fashion  shall  be  used, 
half  the  labor  of  teaching  will  be  frustrated,  except  so  far  as  itenriches  schoolmas 
ters.— Extract  from  the  .fluthor'a  Preface.. 

JACOBS'  LATIN  READER;  by  FREDERICK  JACOBS,  and  FRF  - 
DERICK  WILLIAM   DOKINC  ;  With  Note*  and  Illustrations,  partly 
translated  from  the  German,  and  partly  drawn  from  other  sources. 
By  JOHN  D.  OGILBY,  Principal  of  the  Grammar  School  of  Coliun 
bia  College,  New- York.     1  vol.  12mo. 

THE  SYMBOLICAL  PRIMER,  or  CLASS  BOOK,  No.  1  Bj 
E.  HAZEN. 

ThisPrimer  consist?  of  two  parts.  Part  the  First  is  composed  of  3G  pages,  and 
contains  4(Ja  cuts,  or  pictures,  with  words  expressing  the  names  of  the  objecu 
which  they  represent  directly  under  them. 

Part  the.  Se.t-ond,  is  composed  of  72  pages,  and  contains  the  cuts  which  are  in 
Part  the  First,  arranged  in  the  same  order,  with  explanation*,  showing  the  nature 
ami  use  of  the  objects  which  they  represent.    The  explanations  are  short  and  are 
designed  to  answer  the  purposes  both  of  Readin;:  ami  Spelling  Lessons.    Experi 
ence  has  proved  that  worls  combined  in  ><  n.'  in  es.  answer  a  much  better  purpose 
for  Spelling  Lessons  than  when  arran^'d  in  columns.     The  Symbolical  Primer, 
however,  is  not  designed  merely  to  tearh  children  to  spell  arid  lead,  but  also  to 
communicate  Information,  adapted  to  t!ie  youim  mind.     If  parents  and  teache— 
will  give  the  latter  object  the  weight  which  it  deserves,  they  will  never  ohjec^/ 
It  on  the  ground  that  it  contains  too  many  pictures  and  no  columns  for  spellir 
The  fact  is,  there  is  nothing  in  columns  of  word?,  arranged  for  spfllitig  le?~ft 
calculated  to  excite  the  attention  or  to  afford  the  least  instruction,  and  conwc  ^ 
ly  children  cannot  b<;  made  to  pny  much  attention  to  them.    Besides  the  ortbu 
phy  of  words  thus  abstractly  presented, cannot  hp  remembered  without  a'^ 
deal  of  difficulty,  inasmuch  a*  th«re  ii  nothing  with  which  the  wordi  CUM  br  *" 
eintwd  to  asiitt  the  memo<y 


"  THE  SPELLER  and  DEFINER,  or  CLASS  BOOK,  No  V 

by  the  same  Author,  is  designed,  as  the  name  imports,  to  answer  the  pui  pose*  ot  a 
Spelling  Book  and  au  Expositor  or  Dictionary.  It  ia  composed  of  '215  pages,  and 
contains  about  8000  weirds,  which  are  explained  and  pronounced  according  to  tht 
best  authorities. 

As  a  book  to  be  committed  to  memory,  it  answers  a  much  better  purpose  than  a 
school  dictionary,  as  it  contains  a  less  number  of  words,  and  such  only  as  are  In 
common  use.  The  words  being  classed  also  according  to  their  parts  of  speech, 
and  arranged  under  different  heads,  according  to  the  number  of  letters  or  syllable* 
of  which  they  are  composed,  can  be  committed  to  memory  in  less  than  half  the 
time  which  is  consumed  in  committing  the  same  number,  arranged  on  the  common 
plan.  The  time  usually  devoted  to  a  Spelling  Book,  will  be  abundantly  sufficient 
to  become  well  acquainted  with  "The  Symbolical  Primer,"  and  '•'•The  Speller  and 
Dejiner,"  so  that  the  knowledge  of  the  meaning  of  the  words  and  other  information 
which  may  be  obtained,  will  be  clear  gain  to  the  pupil. 

ENGLISH  GRAMMAR,  in  Familiar  Lectures,  accompanied  by 
a  Compendium  ;  embracing  a  new  systematic  order  of  Parsing,  a 
new  system  of  punctuation,  Exercises  in  False  Syntax,  and  a  sya- 
tem  of  Philosophical  Grammar,  in  notes  :  to  which  are  added,  an 
Appendix,  and  a  Key  to  the  Exercises.  Designed  for  the  use  of 
Schools  and  Private  Learners.  By  SAMUEL  KIRKHAM. 

"  S.  Kirkham,  Esq.  —  I  have  examined  your  Grammar  with  attention,  and  with 
a  particular  view  to  benefit  the  institution  under  my  charee.  I  am  fully  satisfied 
that  it  is  the  best  form  in  which  Murray's  principles  have  been  given  to  the  pub 
lie.  The  lectures  are  ample,  and  given  in  so  familiar  and  easy  language,  as  to  bo 
readily  understood,  even  by  a  tyro  in  grammar. 

"  I  ttvl  it  dii-  to  say,  that  1  commenced  the  examination  of  your  work,  under  a 
stroii  gprrj-iK'icp  a<r-iinst  it,  in  consequence  of  the  numerous  'improved  systems' 
with  which  the  public  has  been  inundated  of  late,  most  of  which  are  by  no  means 
improvements  on  Murray,  but  the  productions  of  individuals  whom  a  "  littlegram 
m-ir  has  rendered  grammatically  insane.  ''  My  convictions,  therefore,  are  the  re 
sult  of  investigation. 

"  I  wish  you,  Sir,  success  in  your  publication. 

"Respectfully, 

"EBER  WH  EATON. 
Pr.  of  Mechanic's  Society  School.  " 

Upwards  of  fix  hunirf.d  other  recommendations  have  been  presented  to  the  au 
thor,  equally  flattering  with  the  above. 

LEVIZAC'S  FRENCH  GRAMMAR;  a  theoretical  and  practi 
cal  Grammar  of  the  French  Tongue,  in  which  the  present  usage  ia 
displayed,  agreeably  to  the  decisions  of  the  French  Academy.  By 
M.  De  LEVIZAC.  1  vol.  12mo. 

PLAYFAIR'S  EUCLID  ;  Elements  of  Geometry,  containing  thr 
first  six  Books  of  Euclid,  with  a  Supplement  on  the  Quadrature  of 
the  Circle,  and  the  Geometry  of  Solids:  to  which  are  added,  Ele 
ments  of  Plane  and  Spherical  Trigonometry.  By  JOHN  PLAYFAIR, 
F.  R.  S.,  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy,  formerly  of  Mathema 
tics,  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  From  the  last  London  edi 
tion,  enlarged.  1  vol.  8vo. 

JACOBS'  GREEK  READER;  by  FREDERICK  JACOBS,  Professor 
of  the  Gymnasium  at  Gotha,  and  Editor  of  the  Anthologia,  together 
with  Improvements,  additional  Notes,  and  Corrections;  by  DAVID 
PATTERSON,  A.  M.,  late  Rector  of  the  Grammar  School  of  Kirk- 
wall,  and  Teacher  of  Languages  in  New-  York,  1  vol.  8vo. 


PRIMER,  orFirtt  LAMCM  for  Children;  boing 
.n  Introduction  to  tho  Elementary  Spellincr  Book.  By  NOAH  Wta- 
L'L.D 


f> 

A  DISSERTATION  ON  THE  USE  AND  ABUSE  OF  TO 
BACCO,  wherein  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  attending  th« 
consumption  of  that  entertaining  weed,  are  particularly  considered. 
Addressed  to  all  the  Tobacco  Consumers.  By  ADAM  CLARKE, 
L.L.  D. 

CLARKE'S  COMMENTARY  on  the  Old  and  New-Testament, 
complete  in  6  vols.  royal  octavo,  well  bound.  Methodist  Book 
Room  edition — Price  $  17,34. 

The  New  Testament  alone,  same  edition  and  same  style  of  bind 
ing,  in  two  vols. — Price  $4,00. 

METHODIST    HYMNS.— Methodist  Book  Room  edition— four 
different  sizes,  at  the  following  prices  :  viz. 
12  mo.  plain  sheep,  3100 

24     "  do.  50 

48    "  do-  50 

72    "    on  Pearl  type,     do.      ;il 

All  the  books  published  by  the  Methodist  Book  Concern,  are  *up 
plied,  (either  at  wholesale  or  retail,)  precisely  on  their  terms. 

SCHOOL  BOOKS— Webster's,  Picket's,  Cobb's,  Bentley's,  and 
Cumming's  Spellings ;  Daboll's,  Willett's,  Colburn's,  Pike's, 
Smith's,  Smiley's  and  Emerson's  Arithmetics  ;  Olney's,  Wood- 
bridge's,  and  Parley's  Geographies  ;  Murray's  English  Reader,  Se 
quel,  Exercises,  and  Key ;  Kirkham's,  Murray's,  and  Green'* 
Grammars ;  Ha/en's  Symbolical  Primers,  and  Speller  and  Drfiner ; 
English  Reader,  School  Testaments,  &c. ;  Introduction  to  Popular 
Lessons,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

M'ELRATII  &  BANKS  have  constantly  for  sale,  at  tlie  lowest  prices,  either  at 
wholesale  or  retail,  an  extensive  assortment  of  Theological,  Historical,  Classical, 
School  and  Miscellaneous  books,  among  which  are  the  following: — 

Paley's  Works,  complete  in  I  vol.,  Hunter's  Sacred  Biography,  Dick's  Christian 
Philosopher,  do.  Future  State,  do.  Philosophy  of  Kelimon,  Henry's  and  Clarke's 
Commentaries  .on  the  Bible,  Piideaux's  Connexion*,  llollin,  Josephus,  Kinne  on 
the  Types,  Hannah  M  ore's  Works,  Pickering's  and  Groves'  Greek  and  English 
Lpxicons,  Boyer's French  Dictionary,  \iinuorih'-  r.;Jin  do.,  Lemprier's  Clan-i 
cal  do.,  Simpson's  and  Playfait's  F.nclid,  Quarto,  Octavo,  School  and  Por'tft  Ri 
bits  of  every  kind,  Journal  oi   Health  -3  vols.,  Journal  of  Law  1  vol.     An  assort 
ment  of  School  Books,  &ct.  &r.     Sunday  School  Libraries  furnished  on  the  most 
reasonable  terms.    Liberal  discount  to  wholesale  purchasers.    Orders  from  any 
part  of  the  I  'niled  Stales  .mended  to  piomptly. 


NEW     JUVENILE     WORK. 

TTIF,   Pll^r   TIVE  VOLUMES  OF 

THE  SCHOOL  LIBRARY 

OP 

USEFUL  AND  GENERAL  KNOWLEDGE. 

VOL.  I.— EASY  LESSONS,  selected  from  Mrs.   Barbauld,  M- 
Day,  Miss  Edgewortb,  and  others,  with  several  hundred  cuts--11 
most  interesting  work  for  young  children,  ,  ...  • 

VOL.   II.— STlMlV   i»F   !'R  ANK.  from   M  .  T  ' 

book  is  one  of  the  ninst  popular  juvenile  works  'in  our  language '  •>» 
well  as  the  most  rntert-iiniitjf  and  instructive. 


VOL.  III.— PLEASING  STORIES,  selected  from  Mr.  Crabbe, 
Mrs.  Fenwick,  and  others  calculated  to  form  the  mind  to  virtue. 

VOL.  IV— YOUTH'S  GUIDE  TO  KNOWLEDGE,  &c.  This 
volume  describes  the  various  vegetables  throughout  the  world  used 
as  food,  and  in  the  preparation  of  food,  clothing,  &c.  It  also 
describes  the  mode  of  manufacturing  most  articles  in  general  uxe, 
animal,  vegetable,  and  mineral. 

VOL.  V.— NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  Q.UADRUPEDS  ;  from 
Mrs.  Trimmer  and  others.  It  contains  upwards  of  one  hundred 
engravings  of  animals. 

The  above  work  is  printed  on  good  paper  and  neatly  bound,  and 
sold  at  a  very  low  price,  in  order  that  it  may  be  obtained  by  every 
family.  Persons  at  a  distance  can  procure  the  work  by  applying  to 
any  country  bookseller  or  country  merchant. 

The  sixth  volume  of  this  work  will  contain  selections  from  the 
Percy  Anecdotes. 

THE  SCHOOL  LIBRARY 

Of  Useful  and  General  Knowledge  is  designed  to  implant  correct  principles  in 
the  youthful  mind,  and  to  allure  to  active  goodness.  It  gives  a  clear  view  of  what 
is  right,  and  of  the  great  advantage  of  pursuing  it.  It  is  intended  to  contain  no 
thing  to  which  the  most  scrupulous  can  object.  The  live  volumes  now  published, 
are  adapted  to  dilferent  ages,  from  infancy  to  maturity,  as  class  books,  and  are  se 
lected  from  M.  Berquin,  Mrs.  Barbauld,  Dr.  Aikin,  Miss  Edgeworth,  Mrs.  Fen- 
wick,  Mr.  Crabbe,  Count  Bardi,  Mrs.  Trimmer,  and  others,  and  afford  useful 
knowledge  on  a  great  variety  of  subjects.  The  first  volumes  consist  in  part  of 
stories  of  amiable  conduct  in  children  and  youth,  calculated  to  form  the  juvenile 
mind  to  virtue ;  and  also  of  stories  of  disobedience  and  carelessness,  which  pro 
duced  dreadful  accidents  and  ill  consequences.  The  selection  of  Anecdotes  con 
tains  many  true  stories  of  youth,  whose  actions  were  an  honour  to  human  nature, 
and  of  others,  who  by  persevering  industry  and  economy,  raised  themselves  to 
eminence  from  very  small  beginnings. 

In  the  progress  of  the  work  it  is  designed  to  give  general  information  suited  to 
mature  age,  as  well  as  to  youth,  and  to  treat  of  every  subject  most  interesting  to 
mankind.  It  will  contain  the  best  precepts  for  the  regulation  of  the  conduct 
through  life,  and  also  for  the  preservation  of  health  and  the  prevention  of  disease, 
selected  from  celebrated  authors. 

The  study  of  the  history  of  human  butchery,  or  murder  on  a  large  scale,  should 
\te  deferred  till  the  judgment  is  matured.  If  the  instruction  and  useful  information 
which  this  work  contains  were  early  and  strongly  impressed  on  the  infant  and 
youthful  mind,  it  would  effect  an  important  change  in  society. 

By  devoting  an  hour  every  day,  from  infancy  to  manhood,  to  the  reading  of  use 
ful  books,  correct  principles  would  be  likely  to  be  formed,  which  necessarily  pro 
duce  right  actions.  It  is  the  brutally  ignorant,  chiefly,  both  white  and  black,  who 
destroy  themselves  by  strong  drink,  and  who  fill  our  State  Prisons.  As  men  be 
come  enlightened,  they  will  leain  that  without  regular  industry  they  cannot  enjoy 
health  or  happiness ;  and  that  the  greatest  and  most  lasting  pleasure  is  afforded 
by  doing  good  to  others. 

It  is  hoped  that  parents  and  teachers  generally,  and  all  others  who  feel  interest 
ed  in  the  improvement  of  the  rising  generation,  and  who  tliink  correct  knowledge 
beneficial  to  mankind,  will  procure  the  work,  and  will  use  their  influence  in  pro 
moting  its  circulation. 

M'ELRATH  &.  BANGS,  85  Chatham  •tr««t. 


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DAY  AND  TO  $I.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


: 

rtD        O      (043 

SENT  ON  II  1 

NOV  07  201)1 

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,  U.C.BERKELEY 

, 

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INTER-  LIBPAR1 

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1  Iff        ft  ^       «  /%"»>*. 

WL  31  1970 

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OPT    -1    fl   4nnr 

v  1  1  i  u  1395 

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bl-A-l-l     O      A       Atltir- 

NOV  2  t  1995 

U.  C.  BERKELEY 

LD  21-100m-12,'43  (8796s) 

E3 


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